BY ERIN MILLER | WEST HAWAII TODAY Honokohau Harbor’s overseeing agency opposes a bill that would create a Honokohau Marina Development District, a proposal brought to the state House by two West Hawaii representatives. ADVERTISING Nearly 40 West Hawaii boaters
BY ERIN MILLER | WEST HAWAII TODAY
Honokohau Harbor’s overseeing agency opposes a bill that would create a Honokohau Marina Development District, a proposal brought to the state House by two West Hawaii representatives.
Nearly 40 West Hawaii boaters submitted letters in support of House Bill 2398, introduced by Rep. Denny Coffman, D-Kailua-Kona, Keauhou, Honokohau, and Rep. Cindy Evans, D-North Kona, South Kohala.
Most of the boaters and harbor users submitted a form letter asking the Water, Land and Ocean Resource Committee and Hawaiian Affairs Committee, both of which heard the bill Monday morning, to move the measure out of committee.
“Honokohau is currently in worse condition than many Third World marinas and has long been an embarrassment to West Hawaii’s marine community,” the letter said. “HB 2398 establishes a new form of management that will allow Honokohau to reach its potential, both physically and economically, and better serve our visitors, the West Hawaii community and the people of Hawaii.”
The letters also requested a new form of management to help Honokohau be a better gateway for Kona’s world-class fishing, diving and marine mammal watching industries and become “an enhanced economic generator for the community.”
The committees deferred a decision on the bill until Wednesday.
Department of Land and Natural Resources Chairman William Aila testified against creating the development district. The harbor already loses $200,000 annually, he said in written remarks.
“This deficit includes the annual rental income of $200,000 generated by land lease rents in the facility,” he said. “The department welcomes all potential developers for fast lands in the small boat harbor but due to the current economic climate there is little, if any, interest in developing the surrounding fast lands within the harbor.”
The Public Land Development Corporation, which is administratively attached to DLNR, would also like to develop harbor property, Aila added.
Harbor users dispute that $200,000 deficit claim, Coffman said.
He would rather see the Hawaii Community Development Corporation take over development at Honokohau, because the Public Land Development Corporation should really be dealing with one parcel at a time, while the harbor has land going from the already developed parcels up to the highway.
Anthony Ching, the authority’s executive director, said Monday the authority took no position on the measure. That, combined with the DLNR’s negative comments and opposition from some members of the Hawaiian community, including the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, led Coffman to give the bill a 50-50 chance of success.
State Budget and Finance Department Director Kalbert Young also submitted testimony officially taking no position on the proposal, but noting his department’s general opposition to creation of special funds.
That related to the bill because “it is difficult to determine whether the fund will be self-sustaining,” Young said.
emiller@westhawaiitoday.com
