Posted on: Saturday, December 15, 2001

Ala Wai harbor privatization delayed

By Karen Blakeman
Advertiser Staff Writer

Many of those who were at the Department of Land and Natural Resources meeting are opposed to the state's plan to privatize Ala Wai boat harbor. Cory Lum • The Honolulu Advertiser

The Ala Wai Boat Harbor will be privatized, but not without public input on how it should happen.

After hearing the testimony of over a dozen people, most of whom were among the 35 people who came to the meeting with signs protesting the proposed privatization plan, the state Land Board decided to delay the plan for up to six months.

During that time, representatives of several groups of people who use the Ala Wai or live near it will work with the state Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation to develop minimum standards for development of the area.

"Did we win?" Frank Vargo, a boater who protested the proposal, asked after the hearing. "I think I'll have to check my tape recorder and make sure."

William Mossman, a representative of the Hawaii Boaters Political Action Association and one of the leaders of the challenge against the move to privatize the harbor, said he thought the decision by the board represented a victory of sorts.

"I think generally there is a good feeling about it," Mossman said. "At least they've come to their senses about whether it is appropriate to proceed on this issue without public input."

Efforts to turn the harbor over to private operators have long been a point of contention among various state officials — from the state harbors officials to state lawmakers — and the people who use or live near the Ala Wai.

The state says that plans to lease the land to private developers would allow for better upkeep of the boat harbor, which is falling into disrepair, and would maximize revenue for the state.

Ala Wai employees would be moved to other harbor facilities, harbor officials said.

Those who protest the move say that without proper safeguards, it could also allow for a continuation of the type of overdevelopment plaguing other parts of Waikiki, make slip fees for boaters prohibitive and remove long-time parking considerations for surfers and paddlers.

After listening to several hours of testimony, land board members revised a proposal by the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation, ordering that users and neighbors of the boat harbor be given a voice in the preliminary decision-making process.

They also removed certain requirements for potential lessees that would have made few companies other than a top contender, Westrec Marinas, eligible for the lease.

Westrec Marinas is one of the top marine-area development companies in the country.

Board member Kathryn Whang Inouye warned the protesters that privatization was likely to occur and advised them to take that likelihood into account when considering their recommendations.