Boating fees skyrocket
under state proposal

Public hearings set

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By Diana Leone
dleone@starbulletin.com

Mooring fees at the state's small boat harbors would increase by 35 percent to 185 percent and trailer boat fees would leap to $120 from $25 a year, under a state Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation proposal.

Public hearings about the plan will be held Saturday at several locations on each island. If there are substantial changes to the plan after the hearings, the division will have to hold a second round of hearings.

The purpose of the increases would be to generate about $3 million a year to improve the state-managed boating facilities, said David Parsons, acting special projects administrator for the division.

Under the proposal, mooring fees would increase in the first year of the plan by 185 percent at Ala Wai Harbor, 100 percent at Lahaina Harbor and 35 percent at the state's 13 other small boat harbors.

Proposed increases for subsequent years would be across-the-board at 10 percent for the second year, 5 percent the third year and 3 percent for the next five years (years four to nine of the plan).

Other proposed changes in boating regulations include:

>> Increasing the payments of commercial operators, such as charter fishing boats, pleasure cruises, etc., to 2.5 percent of gross receipts or $200 a month, whichever is greater, from the current 2 percent of gross receipts or $100 a month. In year two, the payment would increase to 3 percent of gross receipts.

>> Kayak rental operators, who have not paid fees in the past, and catamaran operators, who have paid $3.50 per boat per month, will be asked to ante up the same fees as other commercial enterprises.

>> Operations that rent surfboards will be charged $1 per board, up from the 10 cents per board charged now.

The division also proposes to charge people who damage state harbor property but don't repair it, leave unseaworthy vessels berthed in public harbors or abandon boats altogether.

Another provision would grant the division authority to charge for parking at its harbors. Though the immediate intent is to begin charging at the Ala Wai Harbor, the door is left open for parking fees at other locations.

A number of "housekeeping" changes also are proposed.

The changes mark the first fee increase since 1995 and the first major overhaul of boating regulations since the Department of Land and Natural Resources took the division from the Department of Transportation in 1992, Parsons said.

"All our small boating facilities are severely dilapidated," boating regulations planner Carol She said. "There are a lot of piers falling into the water and we don't have funds to build them back to minimum standards."

The division has a stand-alone budget and can spend only what it makes.

Commercial boat operators have largely agreed that the fix-it job is needed, She said.

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Statewide hearings
allow input on proposed
watercraft rules

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Star-Bulletin staff

Fee increases and rules changes proposed by the state Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation can be seen at www.state.hi.us/dlnr/dbor/bordraftrules.htm or obtained by calling 587-1972.

Meeting times and places for Saturday hearings on the proposed rules are listed below.

Written testimony will be accepted by the Department of Land and Natural Resources at the chairman's office, Kalanimoku Building, 1151 Punchbowl St., Honolulu, HI 96813 until Oct. 21.

Maui County:

>> King Kamehameha III School, 611 Front St., Lahaina, 9 a.m. to noon.
>> Kihei Elementary School, 250 Lipoa St., Kihei, Maui, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
>> Lanai Public and School Library, Fraser Street, Lanai City, 10 a.m. to noon.
>> Kaunakakai Ferry shelter located at Kaunakakai small boat harbor, Wharf Road, Kaunakakai, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Big Island:

>> State Office Building, First Floor Conference Rooms A, B and C, Hilo, 9 to 11 a.m.
>> Hawaii District Boating Office, Honokohau Small Boat Harbor, 74-380 Kealakehe Parkway, Kailua-Kona, 3 to 5 p.m.

Kauai County:

>> Chiefess Kamakahele Middle School, 4431 Nuhou St., Lihue, 1 to 4 p.m.

Oahu:

>> King Intermediate School, 46-155 Kamehameha Highway, Kaneohe, 9 a.m. to noon.
>> Jefferson Elementary School, 324 Kapahulu Ave., Honolulu, 9 a.m. to noon.
>> Kapolei Intermediate School, 91-5335 Kapolei Parkway, 9 a.m. to noon.

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DLNR Boating & Ocean Recreation Division