LIHU‘E — The controversial plan to charge non-residents admission to certain state parks might not last long. Although Friday the state Board of Land and Natural Resources authorized establishment of non-resident entry fees in certain state parks including Koke‘e and
LIHU‘E — The controversial plan to charge non-residents admission to certain state parks might not last long.
Although Friday the state Board of Land and Natural Resources authorized establishment of non-resident entry fees in certain state parks including Koke‘e and Ha‘ena, if a citizen-based movement is successful in adding a $1-a-day fee to rental vehicle charges at the state Legislature early next year, the admission plan might be scrapped.
That’s the word from Ron Agor, Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau BLNR representative.
The idea forwarded to state Department of Land and Natural Resources leaders to raise funds for cash-strapped state parks maintenance and operations programs would be to charge visitors $5 a vehicle, and $1 a person for walk-ins, at eight high-use parks across the state, including Koke‘e State Park and Ha‘ena State Park on Kaua‘i.
Canen Ho‘okano, chair of the Koke‘e Advisory Council, urged the board to delay the entrance-fee plan to see if he and others will be successful in getting legislative approval of the $1-a-day hike in rental-car fees, with the additional revenue to go to state park maintenance and operations, Agor said Monday morning.
The board decided to authorize DLNR leaders to put together a plan for collecting non-resident admission fees at the eight parks, and to put the plan out for public comments at hearings and online, Agor said.
Regardless of the legislative outcome, Agor remains adamant that a manned entry booth at Koke‘e is necessary, if for nothing else than as a means of at least monitoring the comings and goings of those doing illegal things there, he said.
“The need for a manned entry booth goes far beyond a mechanism to raise monies,” Agor said.
“The very existence of resource in Koke‘e is at stake. Koa-tree poaching is a huge unlawful business in the forest. Wood poaching is happening so often that the koa forest is in danger,” he said.
“At times, people would see large trucks and back hoes being driven up the mountain just before dark. They are not going up the mountain for a picnic,” he said.
“Maile only grows in Koke‘e. This precious resource is also being threatened by abusive harvesting,” he said.
“Planting of pot is big in Koke‘e. Just imagine some innocent hiker stumbling on to a marijuana field with the criminal growers catching them,” he said.
He spoke of other abuses as well.
“There are over 100 cabins in Koke‘e. The cabins and their infrastructure were built for use only for 180 days a year.
“The forest carrying capacity cannot handle occupants in those cabins for more than 180 days out of the year. Yet abuse continues with people staying in their leased cabins practically all year, overusing the infrastructure and taking a toll on the forest,” he said.
Also, “there are people riding up and down the Koke‘e road shooting at signs and infrastructure. A fatal shooting is bound to happen with the increase in the ‘target practicing,’” he said.
“The manned entry booth is seen as a necessary element by the board for the proper management and control of the resources of Koke‘e. No doubt, the booth will also be used for collecting entry fees,” he said.
“My amendment to omit charging locals the eventual entry fees was approved by the board. The board listened to the public and voted appropriately. The locals will not be charged entry fees,” he said.
