It wasn't very surprising to have several boaters ask me about the status of the state's proposed improvements for the Ala Wai Harbor, considering all of the talk about budget cuts and tax shortfalls in recent weeks.

In July, after all, when I last reported to Water Ways readers of our state's Division of Boating and Ocean Resources' plans for finally replacing its dilapidated B, C, and D docks, the Wall Street bailout was still over the horizon and Hawaii's financial picture looked quite a bit rosier.

I had written then that DOBOR had scheduled the dock replacements to begin in September, but last week, with Halloween in sight, many on the waterfront thought it was time to reconfirm DOBOR's plans.

I certainly couldn't argue, because if you bear in mind that better than half of the 160 slips on those docks are unusable, it equates not only to lost revenue to the Boating Special Fund, but fewer slips for those boaters stuck on a multiyear waiting list.

The arrival of as many as 70 visiting boats in next summer's Transpacific Yacht Race makes the replacement of the docks by mid-July critical as well.

Happily, there was good news from DOBOR's administrator Ed Underwood. Not only are B, C, and D docks going to be replaced, but the cross-dock that connects them will also be replaced.

“;The groundbreaking for the project is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on (Friday),”; he said. “;And we have informed the contractor (Hawaiian Dredging) the project needs to be completed prior to the Transpac fleet arriving.”;

While on the subject of the Ala Wai Harbor, I also quizzed Underwood about the long-discussed vehicle parking fee system that was to be finalized with help from a stakeholder advisory group.

DOBOR's plan in August was to allow beach-goers free parking only in the old helipad area (some 160 stalls by my count) and to contract with Diamond Parking to operate a concession charging 25 cents an hour in the rest of the parking lots. Boat owners would have reserved parking by permit.

“;We will provide at least 300 parking stalls as free parking,”; Underwood said, “;with the remaining being either paid or permit parking.

“;The free public parking area will be closed each day from 10:30 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.,”; he added. “;Anyone parked during the closed period will be towed.”;

Once again it appears to me the plan is seriously flawed by its inequity.

The Ala Wai Harbor and its surrounding parking lots and access roads were created by the state in the early 1950s to serve the needs of Honolulu's recreational boaters. And for nearly as long, it has been the boat owner-supported Boating Special Fund that has paid for whatever maintenance they have received.

Where is there fairness in offering 300 drivers—whether they are fishermen, surfers, paddlers, beach-goers, hotel staff or construction workers—free parking for 18 hours a day?

Even at a mere 25 cents an hour, if those 300 stalls were filled only half of the time, the fees would generate $20,250 per month.