[ OUR OPINION ]

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Mooring fee hike,
marina development
delayed too long

THE ISSUE The state is seeking to raise mooring fees at its 21 recreational boat harbors.

BOAT owners dismayed by the steep increases proposed in mooring fees at state recreational harbors should acknowledge that the raises are long overdue, but they also stand to benefit greatly from dockside improvements.

Although the state has outlined no specific plans for what the extra income might buy, there is no shortage of repairs that need doing. Years of neglect have left Hawaii's facilities in poor condition, an economic handicap and an embarrassment for a state that prides itself on its connection to the ocean.

The fee increases are in order. Moreover, the state should push ahead with strategies to work with private business interests to upgrade marinas as the law allows.

For almost a decade, the bargain-rate tolls have remained the same. Two years ago, the state contemplated raises for mooring, boat trailers, launch ramps and commercial operations, but the proposals inexplicably went nowhere.

The latest plan would boost mooring fees at 21 recreational harbors next year. The increases, ranging from 25 to 40 percent, would reap about $1.5 million for repairs and maintenance, almost triple the spending at current rates.

Hawaii boat owners have enjoyed some of the lowest mooring fees in the nation. The most expensive, at Ala Wai boat harbor, is $4.10 per foot of vessel length; the lowest, at Hana and South Kawaihae on the Big island, drop to $1 or less. In comparison, California's fees range from about $7 to as much as $29 per foot and in Florida, about $10 and up.

The state auditor in 2001 criticized the harbors division for its inability to keep up with repairs and maintenance, citing insufficient fees as the reason. At the time, spending for marina support was $1.3 million a year, a figure 10 times below what was estimated to be needed for fixes.

Revenue losses don't help. Last year, the state removed 70 slips at Ala Wai because they were deemed unsafe. Of the 2,124 state-owned slips, 12 percent are unusable because of safety problems.

As the auditor's report indicated, Hawaii's harbors have long been slighted. What could be attractive and income-generating facilities are scruffy eyesores. When legislation was enacted in 2001 to allow private development of harbors, officials envisioned lively marinas where shops and restaurants lured residents and tourists, producing enough revenue for self-sufficiency.

With Hawaii's economy picking up steam, state leaders should be actively promoting the financial opportunities available oceanside.