Isle campsites
might be leasedA proposal to make some
campgrounds concessions
could generate state revenue
State Land Board Chairman Peter Young is preparing a proposal to expand camping areas on several islands and lease them to concessionaires.
The areas include Kaena Point and Mokuleia on Oahu, Makena on Maui, and Hapuna and Maunakea State Park on the Big Island.
Young said a concession operation would generate some revenue for the state and allow the campsites to be operated without taxpayers' funds.
He said he hopes to have a draft ready to present to the state Board of Land & Natural Resources this month or in October.
Young, who has been discussing the proposal with a variety of park users, including environmentalists and commercial operators, said he is still refining the idea and that public meetings will be held once the Land Board approves the concessionaire concept.
Under a concessionaire agreement, the state has been operating cabins, a gift shop and a restaurant at Kokee on Kauai and also part of its park land at Malaekahana on Oahu.
Young said a great example of a concessionaire operation is the facility run by a nonprofit at Malaekahana.
He said the nonprofit group has suggested taking over the operation of another part of the park because it feels it could do a better job.
He said it was likely that selection of a concessionaire would be made through a "request for proposals," allowing potential bidders to discuss how they would establish and operate the camping sites at a specific park.
"It's not finding someone who wants to pay the most money," he said.
Young said the camping charges to the public would vary and be set by the Land Board. Various sites would offer different kinds of camping.
He said advisory groups would be established to make sure the concessionaires live up to their agreements.
Young said Maunakea State Park has been closed for about five years because the state has been unable to afford to operate it, especially since improvements are needed to bring the water system up to state health standards.
He said the community, including hunters, has indicated an interest in reopening the cabins at Maunakea during hunting season.
Young said that through a concessionaire agreement, the state might be able to implement a master plan for the state park at Hapuna, including the development of walkways and large group camping areas available for families and organizations, such as the Girl Scouts.
Young said he knows camping is popular on Oahu because he sees people lining up outside his office building at night during the summers to get a camping permit a month later.
"It's unpleasant for me to see that," he said.
He said he wants to give youths the camping opportunity he had while growing up in Hawaii.
Young recalled his father driving down to Hapuna in a four-wheel drive before the area was a state park and camping on the beach.
"It was unbelievable," he said. "It was a great experience."
