By TOM CALLIS
By TOM CALLIS
Tribune-Herald staff writer
The successful bidder for the Naniloa Volcanoes Resort has complained about hotel property being removed prior to the sale being finalized.
Tower Development Inc. President Ed Bushor wrote in federal bankruptcy court that he witnessed “truckloads” of items being taken on Nov. 18 from the Hilo hotel, including lamps, paintings and boxes of files.
He submitted photos he said he took showing two trucks loaded with material. One of the trucks says “Ken Direction Corporation” on the driver-side door.
Ken Fujiyama, who lost the hotel through bankruptcy, is the CEO of Ken Direction Corporation. He could not be reached for comment.
Calls to Bushor and his attorney have also not been returned.
David Farmer, the Naniloa’s bankruptcy trustee, said the paintings — which appeared to have been done by Fujiyama’s daughter — had been put back. The rest of the other items were from storage and didn’t appear to be worth very much, he said.
“It wasn’t right for him (Fujiyama) to do it,” Farmer said. “But it’s no big deal. … It’s much ado about nothing.”
Farmer, who still oversees the hotel, said he is considering hiring security at Bushor’s request to prevent other items from being removed.
Tower Development and Wyland Hilo Hotel LLC submitted the winning bid of $5.2 million for the troubled Banyan Drive hotel earlier this month. The bankruptcy court accepted the bid Nov. 12.
Farmer said the sale is still in the process of being finalized.
He said Judge Robert Faris was expected to sign the paperwork either Monday or today. Afterward, the buyers would have two weeks to provide the cash, Farmer said.
Additionally, the buyers also need approval from the Board of Land and Natural Resources to take on the lease.
The board is expected to consider the matter Dec. 13, according to Russell Tsuji, DLNR land administrator.
The 383-room hotel and its nine-hole golf course are both in need of significant rehabilitation.
In a letter filed in bankruptcy court, Bushor said he plans to model the hotel after the former Wyland Waikiki, which incorporated paintings and other ocean-themed work from artist Robert Wyland.
The letter also said he has a $20 million construction budget for renovations, though details on how that money would be spent remain unclear.
Email Tom Callis at tcallis@hawaiitribune-herald.com.