Have you checked out The Hot Seat? It's our opinion-page blog that brings in your elected leaders and people in the news and lets you ask the questions during a live online chat.

On The Hot Seat last week was Gary Gill, project manager for Waimea Valley's Hi'ilei Aloha, a nonprofit corporation created by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Below is an excerpt from that Hot Seat session. To see the full conversation, go to the Hot Seat blog at www.honoluluadvertiser.com/opinion. (Names of questioners are screen names given during our online chat.)

Joe M.: Ask Gary what qualifies him to be the project manager of Hi'ilei Aloha. Ask him to give examples of his past performances/experience that will have a role in his new venture that will improve Waimea Valley for now and the future. What will be his first moves when he is appointed? What is Gary's vision for Waimea Valley?

Gary Gill: Aloha, Joe. M. I was chosen by Hi'ilei Aloha because of my experience in community work and protection of the environment. I've done a number of things. One of the ones that people see as immediately relevant is my work with Kokua Kalihi Valley. I was in charge of developing a 100-acre nature park in the back of Kalihi Valley and I have had decades of experience working with diverse people and diverse interests. I've already been appointed and one of my first moves was to meet with different community leaders. My vision for Waimea Valley is to keep it an intact ahupua'a — from the mountain to the sea — and a place for a living, learning and practicing Hawaiian culture.

John: Hi Gary. Now that OHA has control of development of Waimea Valley, what do you see as its main objective? Will the public be able to use the valley and falls? Will there be a charge to enter? Are you going to cater to tourists?

Gill: Aloha, John. In addition to perpetuating Hawaiian culture, we would like to protect the existing botanical collection in the valley and make Waimea an example of environmental sustainability. To support this work, we will continue to welcome both kama'aina and malihini. The fees collected for visiting the valley will support our mission.

Jay: Sea Life Park just laid off some of its staff. Waimea Valley has had financial difficulties with previous tourism operators. How committed financially is OHA to Waimea's future, and how does the limited liability nonprofit management structure enhance that future? Does the nonprofit management also limit OHA's financial and legal liabilities? Could Waimea survive a tourism downturn?

Gill: Aloha, Jay. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is committed to supporting Waimea Valley financially. It is our belief that Waimea would survive a tourism downturn because tourism is not our primary objective. Our primary objective is to preserve the valley and perpetuate Hawaiian culture.

David C. Johnson: If you have had an opportunity to review the forecast, do you feel there will be adequate funds for infrastructure upgrade and maintenance?

Gill: Aloha, David. We know that there are millions of dollars of maintenance work to be done and we are looking into how to secure funding.

Jo: Hi Gary, my question is this: What assurances can you give us (the public) that Waimea will be preserved in perpetuity? In other words, how will we know if all of it, or part of it, will ever be put up for sale?

Gill: Aloha, Jo. Waimea Valley was purchased for the purpose of preservation. To guarantee that that continues, OHA issued a public access and conservation easement held by the city. Any future owner would have to abide by the requirements of that easement to protect the natural and cultural resources there.

Curtis: How much is all this preservation costing taxpayers? How would you answer to those who feel we have greater needs, like fixing our sewers and other stuff that's falling apart. Where are the priorities?

Gill: Aloha, Curtis. Right now, no taxpayer money is being used to preserve Waimea. We will be managing the valley and preserving its resources primarily with funds generated on site. Saving Waimea was a big priority to the North Shore community and all of O'ahu.

Lisa: Gary, because Waimea will need funding for maintenance and such, do you foresee it turning into the old "Adventure Park" to draw in tourist dollars?

Gill: Aloha, Lisa. Absolutely not. We think that following our vision of cultural perpetuation will attract tourists.

Christian L: I just don't see how Waimea can sustain itself financially, with the staff, maintenance and all that. The fees won't begin to cover it. What is your financial sustainability plan, Mr. Gill?

Gill: Aloha, Christian L. Waimea has been profitable in the past and we will make it self-sustaining in the future. To do this, we will need to balance the number of daily visitors and the fees that they are asked to pay.

Rob: What types of activities will be done at Waimea to educate the public and tourists about Hawaiian culture? I think it's important that all people learn and respect the host culture here.

Gill: Aloha, Rob. We hope to have crafts, Hawaiian language, lauhala weaving, hula, woodcarving and other traditional and customary practices. One of the great things about Waimea is that it has the physical resources necessary to support these practices.

Kehaulani: Aloha Gary, welcome to Waimea Valley. Would Waimea Valley become a state park? It would help with the maintenance and groundskeeping. Though the workers are doing the best they can with what they have, wouldn't it be more sensible? By the way, where is the city's easement?

Gill: Aloha, Kehaulani. Maintenance and groundskeeping workers will be on staff with the Waimea Valley nonprofit company. The public access and conservation easement covers the entire property.