Ko Olina Resort & Marina officials yesterday told a state House committee that the creator of the Guam aquarium is leading the effort to develop a $75 million aquarium, using state tax revenues, at the West O'ahu resort.

Texas-based U.S. Aquarium Team Inc. is heading up the Ko Olina development team, joined by local entertainment industry veteran Roy Tokujo of Cove Entertainment Inc.

Resort executives Todd Apo and Mike Nelson briefed committee members on the project's delays and recent progress in hopes of snuffing out a bill proposing to repeal a 2003 law that provides $75 million in state tax credits to build the facility.

Nearly two-thirds of House members sponsored the bill, some out of concern that the project would not be built by the law's 2009 deadline or deliver promised benefits of additional jobs, tourism attraction and tax revenue.

Several key legislators, including Rep. Jerry Chang, chairman of the House Tourism & Culture Committee hearing the bill, said the briefing alleviated their concerns enough for them to withdraw support for the bill. A vote to advance or defer the bill is scheduled for Tuesday.

"I think with the presentation, it showed they are progressing," said Chang, D-2nd (Hilo).

Rep. Felipe "Jun" Abinsay, D-29th (Kalihi, Sand Island), said he has been to the Guam aquarium and is impressed that its developer is working with Ko Olina. "My position right now is to let (the tax credits) go ahead, but we have to continue to monitor the progress," he said.

Chang and Abinsay are among several lawmakers who supported the tax credit three years ago but agreed to sponsor the repeal bill.

Other lawmakers sponsoring the bill voted against the measure three years ago and still oppose it because it uses taxpayer financing to primarily benefit one community and landowner.

There has been much speculation over the fate of the planned aquarium since the tax credits were authorized in 2003.

Ko Olina master developer Jeff Stone initially projected the aquarium could open in 2005. But the estimate has been revised several times, along with several dramatic conceptual design changes and relocation of the planned site three times.

Some of the delays occurred because Ko Olina sought to locate the aquarium on near-shore land zoned for resort use. Because the city classifies the aquarium as a zoo, one plan ran afoul of city rules prohibiting it from being next to a planned residential condominium. Another plan ran into difficulty because it would have been too close to the ocean.

Apo, who is a city councilman but was not speaking in that capacity, said he doesn't expect permitting problems because the current site is zoned for commercial and preservation uses compatible with a zoo.

Permits have been requested for a test well to determine if there is adequate seawater supply for the aquarium and air-conditioning use, Apo said.

U.S. Aquarium Team is working on design plans for the aquarium with giant acrylic tubes and traditional exhibits, as opposed to previous concepts for swim-through experiences.

About 800 people a day are projected to visit the aquarium.

Apo said designs should be firm enough to present to the area neighborhood board by the end of summer, with final plans submitted for permitting by the end of the year.

Construction is projected to start in mid-2007 and be complete in late 2008, ahead of the June 2009 deadline.

U.S. Aquarium was established in 1998 by Erik Pedersen, an industry veteran who directed teams that developed Underwater World aquariums in San Francisco and Minnesota's Mall of America. U.S. Aquarium also developed Underwater World in Guam in 1999.

Cove Entertainment operates Paradise Cove lu'au at Ko Olina as well as the theatrical show " 'Ulalena" on Maui.

Reach Andrew Gomes at agomes@honoluluadvertiser.com.