The purpose of the meeting was not to discuss whether the state should make users pay to park at small boat harbors.
The purpose of the meeting was not to discuss whether the state should make users pay to park at small boat harbors.
But that contentious issue was on the minds of people attending a Thursday evening hearing by the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation. The agency was taking testimony on a rule clarification that would allow the state to establish parking rates for small boat harbors and base those charges on other county and state rates.
The clarification is a preamble to a DOBOR plan to charge for parking at Maalaea Harbor on Maui. It doesn’t directly affect the Big Island — at least not yet.
But that wasn’t obvious to the seven people who showed up at the hearing at Kealakehe Intermediate School.
“By this ruling, are they saying they’re going to set up paid parking at the harbor?” asked Alicia Starsong. “My concern is that the fees not be unreasonable and that we get something in return, like night security at Honokohau Harbor.”
Currently, there are no parking charges at any of the Big Island’s small boat harbors. There are also no plans to implement any, confirmed Daniel Mersburgh, DOBOR’s interim Hawaii district manager.
The division’s administrator Ed Underwood said in a phone interview that he would love to initiate paid parking on Hawaii Island, but has been directed to keep fees on the shelf in favor of other priorities.
“It’s not off the table,” Underwood said.
Phil Fernandez criticized the lack of information and framework for the hearing.
“You have 12 words,” Fernanadez said of the rule clarification. “DOBOR needs to create the context, then say, here is the big picture that makes all the rules work. The way they’re doing it now, people won’t show up.”
Kawaihae residents also raised grievances with a lack of harbor parking, thrill craft use in whale sanctuary and fish replenishment areas, coral damage by boat anchors, and a general lack of education on correct usage of the ocean.
Rick Gaffney, president of the Hawaii Fishing and Boating Association, said in an interview that his organization was founded in 2010 to counter a DOBOR attempt to initiate paid parking at Honokohau Harbor. The proposal, unpopular with businesses and residents, would have implemented 40 cent-per-hour fees and a $90 monthly fee for business owners.
The state has been gradually introducing user fees similar to those already in place at many facilities on the mainland.
Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area began charging nonresident visitors $5 last April, and commercial operations $10 to $40 depending on the number of passengers. Parks officials said the measure would offset $720,000 in annual operating expenses. A similar fee system for commercial operators and tourists was implemented at Akaka Falls State Park in 2010.
Links to the rule clarifications can be found at dlnr.hawaii.gov/dobor/meetings.