New law allows commercial
leases at small boat harbors

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By Mary Adamski
madamski@starbulletin.com

Dockside restaurants with a view of red sails in the sunset are a possibility under a bill signed by Gov. Ben Cayetano allowing commercial leases in the state's small boat harbors.

Act 299 relaxes the state law that limited use of state harbor land to maritime purposes.

The bill approved June 29 is the second allowing private investment in state-owned harbors.

Earlier, the governor approved a measure by which a private company can negotiate to make capital improvements in return for reduced lease or use fees.

"These constitute a one-two punch to pump lifeblood into these harbors," said Bill Mossman, a spokesman for the Hawaii boaters political action association.

"I don't know of any opposition. Everyone I know is supportive," said Mossman, who has testified on the issue in several legislative sessions on behalf of recreational boaters.

Jim Schoocraft, acting administrator of the state Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation, said the bill "gives us flexibility and provides a way to generate more income." He said the only pending application for such use that he knows about is the desire of the Lanai development company to lease and develop harbor land.

Another possible use would be a small convenience store, something Mossman said would be welcomed by boaters.

The capital advancement bill approved earlier would allow investment up to $2 million by a firm, such as a cruise ship company enhancing docking accommodations.

Other bills approved by the governor:

>> Act 286: Appropriates money for four teachers to help people 55 and older with severe visual impairment to live independently.

>> Act 287: Provides Department of Education more flexibility in hiring public school principals and vice principals by lessening experience requirements.

>> Act. 288: Gives victims of domestic violence the right to be notified when the defendant violates terms of probation or when a probation officer has information that affects a victim's safety or welfare, and protects officers from civil liability.

>> Act 289: Establishes resident advisory boards of people assisted by the Housing and Community Development Corp. of Hawaii under federal public housing and Section 8 assistance programs.

>> Act 290: Requires that the Housing and Community Development Corp. of Hawaii board of directors include at least one person receiving public housing assistance.

>> Act 291: Authorizes issuance of $30 million in revenue bonds for assistance to housing developers who provide affordable rentals.

>> Act. 292: Decriminalizes the sale of sterile syringes as a way to reduce the spread of blood-borne diseases.

>> Act 293: Provides a 4 percent income tax credit for building drought-mitigating water storage facilities.

>> Act 294: Establishes interference with reporting an emergency or crime as a petty misdemeanor.

>> Act 296: Appropriates funding to provide assistance to homeless people.

>> Act 297: Prohibits fraudulent manufacture and use of disability parking permits.

>> Act 298: Protects Hawaii agriculture and biotechnology industries by imposing civil liability for damage or destruction of crops or commodities.

>> Act 302: Amends Hawaiian Homes Commission Act to give homestead community organizations more self-determination authority.