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Alvin Maeda may have to tear down the pier behind his house if the state approves a new method of calculating rent for submerged land in Kaneohe Bay. Submerged-land plan
unfair, pier owner saysBy Treena Shapiro
Star-BulletinThe state Department of Land and Natural Resources has been struggling for years to figure out a way to fairly charge rent for non-commercial residential piers on the bay and will present to the Land Board tomorrow four methods for assessing rental rates. The department's preferred method bases the per square foot value of submerged land on 50 percent of the value of the "fast land" the pier extends from.
Maeda, who currently pays about $30 a month rent, plans to testify at the meeting that the method is unfair because it uses the same calculations for both residential and commercial piers. Commercial pier owners can claim a deduction on their pier rent at the end of the year but "the residential people do not have anything," Maeda said. "We are not in business and cannot afford to pay the 50 percent rate."
He planned to suggest that rent for non-commercial piers be based on a 10 percent rate instead.
If his proposal is rejected, he may not be able to keep his pier, not only because of the increase in rent, but because the pier owners will also be responsible for a survey and appraisal of their land.
"I think I may have to break down my pier," he said.
Maeda said he's not against paying a more reasonable rent, however. "We're not against the intent of the state," he said. "We think what they are trying to do is good."
Burt Kaminaka, another pier owner, also said he doesn't oppose the rent, but would like to see equanimity among the pier owners. Previously, piers not used for keeping boats were considered public property and not charged rent.
"There's another 200 people who have never paid a penny," he said. "There's only 20 pier owners who have been paying for the last 20, 30 years."
In addition, the rent varies from pier to pier. Kaminaka pays $36 a month, while his neighbor pays $97.
The state will hold a public hearing on the Kaneohe Bay piers on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the Kaneohe Community and Senior Center Auditorium.
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