Harbor users told parking and fuel dock will remain
The state does not want to close the fuel dock at the Ala Wai Boat Harbor and does not want to end free parking for surfers, canoe paddlers and other ocean users.
That was the message Department of Land and Natural Resources Director Peter Young had yesterday for more than 150 people who crowded an informational meeting he called at the Hawaii Yacht Club.
Many of those in attendance wore white T-shirts that read, "Save our fuel dock," and said they had heard the fuel dock would be closed.
What the state does want to do is change its permit agreement with Magic Island Petroleum to take away the company's control of 16 boat slips on the dock, Young said.
The DLNR is seeking a new agreement with Magic Island Petroleum to rent it only the fuel dock and store under new terms, he said.
The fuel dock issue is on the agenda for the Board of Land and Natural Resources, which meets at 9 a.m. next Friday at the Kalanimoku Building.
Russ Wells, manager of Magic Island Petroleum's Da Store and fuel dock, said yesterday before Young's meeting that the store will not make enough money selling fuel and convenience store items to cover its costs.
Young said last night at the meeting that he realizes the business needs to make money, and the new agreement would be structured differently.
On the parking issue, Young said he has been hearing complaints from boaters that they cannot find parking spaces at the harbor, which they pay for on a monthly basis.
The boaters' parking places are being used by surfers and other ocean users because the free parking at the old heliport makai of the Hilton Lagoon is often filled with hotel and construction workers' cars.
The DLNR's boating division is going to explore ways to provide parking to its constituents -- boaters and other ocean users, Young said. His statements drew applause from the crowd.
Several people complained that the hotels and construction firms should be responsible for providing parking for their workers.
Young also announced at the meeting that a new, $900,000 replacement for F dock will be built next year. The dock was deemed unsafe and torn out several years ago, but the DLNR has been unable to get funding for the capital improvement.