Thursday, November 21, 2024
Hawai'i Free Press

Current Articles | Archives

Monday, September 9, 2019
DLNR Hikes Small Boat Harbor Fees
By News Release @ 6:38 PM :: 4897 Views :: Small Business, Tourism, Cost of Living

UPDATED SMALL BOAT HARBOR FEES TO HELP ADDRESS  DEFERRED MAINTENANCE

News Release from DLNR-DOBOR, September 9, 2019

(Honolulu) – Fee increases for users of Hawai‘i small boat harbors and boating facilities will be implemented soon, after they were signed into law by Governor David Ige on August 13, 2019.

“Our goal was to set fees that are fair according to use,” said Ed Underwood, Administrator for DLNR’s Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR).  “DOBOR is only allowed to collect fees to pay for expenses of operating, maintaining, and managing our facilities.  The revenues from the fee increases over time will help to reduce the significant backlog of deferred maintenance so we can make our harbors safe and appealing once again.” 

“The new rates are still very competitive when compared to both public and private mooring rates elsewhere in the State,” Underwood noted.

DOBOR last implemented a comprehensive set of fee increases in 1994.  The changes were made possible through rule amendments in compliance with statute that update slip fees for DLNR harbors, price of electricity, shower access, dry storage, vessel registration, and numerous other fees associated with vessel operation and use of boating facilities in Hawai‘i.  By statute, slip fees for mooring a vessel are now being set by appraisal, as determined by a third-party appraiser.

Protection of Hawai‘i’s limited natural resources is reflected in certain amendments in the new rule package.  For example, fresh water may now only be used for specific activities related to boating.  Boat launch ramp fees will no longer cover the use of fresh water at boat and trailer washdown facilities.  “Last fiscal year, DOBOR paid $1,074,000 out of the Boating Special Fund for water.  We have 25 boating facilities statewide.  The water bills for 15 of these facilities exceeded $20,000, including 3 facilities where water bills exceeded $100,000.  Our water bill for the Wai‘anae small boat harbor alone was more than $400,000,”  Underwood stated.

“To help us conserve water, boaters should only use one hose bib at a time while using the washdowns and keep their time limited to a maximum of 15 minutes.  They should also use spring-loaded nozzles on hoses to prevent water just running and being wasted,” Underwood commented.  “We plan to initiate outreach on water conservation needs, but in the future if we do not see a reduction in water consumption and unauthorized use continues, we will have to institute tighter controls, including a metered usage fee or even shutting water off at washdowns in extreme cases.  A washdown shutoff at even one facility could save millions of gallons of drinkable water each year.”

“As responsible stewards we have to do everything possible to conserve our limited natural resources. Our fresh water supply is being depleted faster than it can be replenished.  Conservation is everyone’s responsibility,” said DLNR Chair Suzanne Case.

Another major change is the fee for Commercial Use Permits (CUPs), required of anyone using state waters for profit.  Monthly CUP fees will increase from the greater of $200 per month or 3% of a company’s monthly gross revenues to the greater of $300 per month or 3% of monthly gross revenues.  The CUP system has enabled DOBOR to successfully identify and track numbers and places where legitimate commercial operators charge for excursions, lessons, and tours in State waters.

Underwood concluded, “We need to employ different strategies to solve the backlog of deferred maintenance and to improve the overall health of our harbor system.  These fee increases are part of that strategy.”

The fee increase amendment package is posted online, where readers can view old and new versions side-by-side.

DOBOR fee increase amendments online: LINK

To view video please click on photo or view at this link: LINK

Links

TEXT "follow HawaiiFreePress" to 40404

Register to Vote

2aHawaii

Aloha Pregnancy Care Center

AntiPlanner

Antonio Gramsci Reading List

A Place for Women in Waipio

Ballotpedia Hawaii

Broken Trust

Build More Hawaiian Homes Working Group

Christian Homeschoolers of Hawaii

Cliff Slater's Second Opinion

DVids Hawaii

FIRE

Fix Oahu!

Frontline: The Fixers

Genetic Literacy Project

Grassroot Institute

Habele.org

Hawaii Aquarium Fish Report

Hawaii Aviation Preservation Society

Hawaii Catholic TV

Hawaii Christian Coalition

Hawaii Cigar Association

Hawaii ConCon Info

Hawaii Debt Clock

Hawaii Defense Foundation

Hawaii Family Forum

Hawaii Farmers and Ranchers United

Hawaii Farmer's Daughter

Hawaii Federation of Republican Women

Hawaii History Blog

Hawaii Jihadi Trial

Hawaii Legal News

Hawaii Legal Short-Term Rental Alliance

Hawaii Matters

Hawaii Military History

Hawaii's Partnership for Appropriate & Compassionate Care

Hawaii Public Charter School Network

Hawaii Rifle Association

Hawaii Shippers Council

Hawaii Together

HiFiCo

Hiram Fong Papers

Homeschool Legal Defense Hawaii

Honolulu Navy League

Honolulu Traffic

House Minority Blog

Imua TMT

Inouye-Kwock, NYT 1992

Inside the Nature Conservancy

Inverse Condemnation

July 4 in Hawaii

Land and Power in Hawaii

Lessons in Firearm Education

Lingle Years

Managed Care Matters -- Hawaii

MentalIllnessPolicy.org

Missile Defense Advocacy

MIS Veterans Hawaii

NAMI Hawaii

Natatorium.org

National Parents Org Hawaii

NFIB Hawaii News

NRA-ILA Hawaii

Obookiah

OHA Lies

Opt Out Today

Patients Rights Council Hawaii

Practical Policy Institute of Hawaii

Pritchett Cartoons

Pro-GMO Hawaii

RailRipoff.com

Rental by Owner Awareness Assn

Research Institute for Hawaii USA

Rick Hamada Show

RJ Rummel

School Choice in Hawaii

SenatorFong.com

Talking Tax

Tax Foundation of Hawaii

The Real Hanabusa

Time Out Honolulu

Trustee Akina KWO Columns

Waagey.org

West Maui Taxpayers Association

What Natalie Thinks

Whole Life Hawaii