The state Parks Division hopes to begin collecting fees by mid-January from vehicles entering Diamond Head State Park. Vehicle fees, tunnel lights
due for Diamond Head
By Diana Leone
dleone@starbulletin.comIn April the Board of Land & Natural Resources approved new fees that range from $5 for a private vehicle to $40 for a large bus. But the drive-in fees will not be collected until a tollbooth is constructed.
C.C. Engineering has the $15,000 contract to build the booth but is waiting for special-order windows before it begins, said Martha Yent, a supervisor with the Parks Division.
The work, scheduled to begin today, will probably be completed by Jan. 15 and no later than Jan. 20, Yent said. The park will remain open during that time.
Diamond Parking will begin collecting fees from both walk-in park users and vehicles after the toll both is completed.
Diamond Parking was awarded an $80,000-a-year contract to collect fees 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
Diamond Head State Park started charging a $1 fee for park entrance in May 2000 and took in $571,000 in the first year of walk-in fee collection.
Fees will be:
>> $1 for an individual to walk in, or $10 for an annual walk-in pass.Paul's Electrical Service is scheduled to begin installing electric lights in February inside the Diamond Head trail's 225-foot-long tunnel and along the spiral staircase, which will involve some park closure.>> $5 for a private vehicle, or $30 for an annual drive-in pass.
>> $10 for a commercial vehicle that seats up to 15 people.
>> $20 for a minibus that seats 16-25 people.
>> $40 for a bus that seats 25 or more.
The lights will do away with the need for visitors to use flashlights and will promote a safer hike, she said. It will cost $217,700.
