LIHU‘E — Laura Thielen bristles when state parks are compared to national parks in Hawai‘i. A simple chart that shows the disparity between per-park funding of the 69 state parks and park reserves (around $70,000 per year) versus the five
LIHU‘E — Laura Thielen bristles when state parks are compared to national parks in Hawai‘i.
A simple chart that shows the disparity between per-park funding of the 69 state parks and park reserves (around $70,000 per year) versus the five national parks (over $4,500,000 annually) explain why national parks look so good and are well-staffed and in generally better shape than state parks, said Thielen, chairperson of the state Board of Land and Natural Resources and director of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.
By her own accounts, state parks and recreational places “are in shameful condition” and “continue to fall into disrepair,” which is why her department feels the need to act now on increasing revenues for critical repair and maintenance.
Dealt a temporary blow by the state Legislature’s failure earlier this year to enact the Gov. Linda Lingle “recreational renaissance” plan that called for $240 million in capital improvements, Thielen and staff came up with “Plan B,” which calls for parking fees for non-residents at eight signature state parks, including Ha‘ena State Park and Koke‘e State Park on Kaua‘i, and increases in mooring fees at state small boat harbors.
The idea is to raise $8 million per year to support routine and scheduled repair, maintenance and improved operations in state parks, harbors, hiking trails, boat ramps and piers,from new parking and increased mooring fees and from leases on harbor lands and urban land leases and rents.
In an interview at The Garden Island office Wednesday, Thielen said members of the state House supported the recreational renaissance this session, but at the 11th hour some senators questioned DLNR’s ability to pay debt service on the bonds needed to finance the $240 million plan.
She said she is hopeful the state Legislature will approve the funding plan for the recreational renaissance next year, but action needs to be taken now to protect, preserve and repair some of the state’s special places she feels are in danger of being lost.
“Some may have to close, some will fall into disrepair,” and some may be lost forever, including significant cultural resources, if action is not taken now, she said.
The parking fees, approved by BLNR members at their August meeting, are proposed to be collected through an automated system that will accept credit cards and will generate an estimated $3 million a year, she said.
The fee system will be phased in at the eight state parks over the next year, and public discussions will take place regarding the matter, she said.
During the BLNR meeting where the fee system was approved, Ron Agor, the BLNR Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau representative, was successful in getting an amendment approved to require the DLNR Division of State Parks to hold informational meetings on Kaua‘i when detailed plans for each park are established and prior to implementing any such plans, Agor said in an e-mail.
State Sen. Gary Hooser, D-Kaua‘i-Ni‘ihau, also attended the meeting, testified in support of the concept, but cautioned the board to pay attention to the Kaua‘i community, Agor said.
Other board members attempted to defer action on their respective islands, or defer action overall on the matter, but could not muster enough support for such deferrals, said Agor.
“The board overall felt that we had no time to waste as our parks are deteriorating in front of our eyes,” he said.
State administrative rules need to be changed in order to allow for parking fees and entry fees, Thielen said.
There had been discussion among members of the Koke‘e Advisory Committee that funds raised at Koke‘e be used to fund Koke‘e repairs, maintenance and operations.
Thielen said that’s not likely to happen. “If you’re asking for fees generated in Koke‘e to stay in Koke‘e, what happens to Polihale? Do you start charging residents?”
Regarding the proposed master plan for Koke‘e State Park, Thielen, who met with some members of the Koke‘e State Park Advisory Council when she was on the island Wednesday, said, “I think there is agreement on a bulk of the plan,” with areas of dispute centered around the lodge and museum.
She heard about some longtime residents concerned that overnight-cabin-camping options need to remain available to them.
“We need to listen to the advisory council,” and the council needs to find different ways to reach out to the community and make sure they get feedback, she said.
On another matter, the DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation has an $11 million budget, yet only around 8 percent, or $846,630, currently goes to repair and maintenance for 20 small boat harbors and 25 ramps and piers statewide, she said.
At Kikiaola, a $1.4 million contract has been awarded for dredging the inner harbor, with work to begin in September and finish by February 2010. It didn’t make any sense to dredge the inner harbor while a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contractor worked on the outer harbor, she said. The state helped fund the Kikiaola outer harbor work.
Finally, an asset-management system to formulate and implement model repair-and-maintenance standards is in the works, to include user-friendly online services and a pilot asset-management system to be implemented at one park, one harbor and one trail — the Alaka‘i Swamp Trail.
