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IN AND AROUND THE CAPITOL
Harbor neighbors,
boaters oppose bill
Ala Wai, Keehi folks
Herkes' aide aims to succeed him By Leila Fujimori
testify against the plan
for commercialization
Star-BulletinAla Moana condominium owners and boat owners at Ala Wai Boat Harbor turned out last night to try to kill a state House bill that would allow commercialization of state harbors.
Revenues from nonmaritime commercial activities such as restaurants could prove lucrative, Janet Kawelo, deputy director of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, told the House Finance Committee.
But opponents were more concerned with commercial boat activity, including moorage, in the Ala Wai and Keehi boat harbors. At the Ala Wai, the department is eyeing 54 front-row boat slips for commercial boats.
Linda Vargo fears her boat will be displaced from its front-row Ala Wai slip by a commercial boat.
Reg White, recreational boater and excursion passenger boat operator, worries that 54 commercial boats going in and out of the harbor would create a traffic nightmare, including buses to bring passengers to the boats.
The committee, after hearing testimony, deferred decision-making on the bill last night.
Residents of the Ilikai Apartments also were afraid their property values would go down because commercial development might block their views.
Residents, some who live on their boats, also expressed concerns over noise and safety problems.
They told committee members that large commercial boats speeding through the narrow harbor would endanger kayakers, surfers, canoe paddlers and young ones learning to sail.
Kawelo said slips only accommodate the same size boats and the height limit of buildings is 40 feet, the same for boat masts.
State Rep. Galen Fox, who represents the Ala Wai and Waikiki district, suggested amending the bill to eliminate rental of Ala Wai slips to commercial boats.
"You're actually going to reduce the quality of life if you commercialize that front row (of slips)," Fox said.
Upkeep a costly problem
Howard Gehring, administrator of the state Boating and Ocean Recreation Division, said the rental provision was not crucial to the measure."It's a statewide issue," said Howard Gehring. "It's much better than us waiting for another year and another $10 million of deterioration statewide in our ocean programs."
Gehring said most boaters can't afford a 300 percent increase in slip fees required to bring the boating facilities up to acceptable standards.
Although the operations of the Ala Wai and Keehi Small Boat Harbor are in the black, Gehring said, most other state harbors are unable to generate enough revenues to pay for themselves.
If the bill becomes law, it will give the department authority to use undeveloped land around harbors for a variety of commercial uses and not be restricted solely to maritime use.
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HILO -- Democrat Bill Eger, a longtime aide to Rep. Bob Herkes, has filed to run for Herkes' 4th District (Puna/Kau) House of Repesentatives seat. Rep. Herkes' aide
aims to succeed himHerkes, an employee of a Kamehameha Schools Bishop Estate subsidiary, was in effect barred from running again by an Internal Revenue Service ruling on the estate.
In filing papers yesterday, Eger said, "Puna and Kau need jobs. We need opportunities for our young people, we need books in our schools, and we need water development in Kau."
Owner of a public relations firm, Eger also succeeded as president of the Hilo Navy League in getting military facilities in the state to buy more Big Island food including milk and beef, he said.
Others who say they intend to run for the seat are former County Councilwoman Helene Hale, 81, a Democrat, and state Department of Human Services employee Robert Reed, 63, a Republican.
You can track bills, hearings and other Legislature action via: Get involved
The Legislative Reference Bureau's public access room, state Capitol, room 401. Open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday, and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Phone: 587-0478; fax, 587-0793; TTY, 538-9670.
Neighbor islanders, call toll-free and enter ext. 70478 after the number:
Big Island, 974-4000; Maui,
984-2400; Kauai, 274-3141;
Molokai and Lanai, 468-4644.
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