Posted on: Thursday, August 1, 2002

ISLAND VOICES
Input on Ala Wai lease is critical

By Bill Littell
Marina consultant

The idea of allowing boat owners to manage the Ala Wai boat harbor (July 22 commentary "Let the boat owners manage boat harbor") sounds great, but it is a little late in the process. The harbor has been left run down for many years by the state and those who use it.

A Band-Aid approach might have worked had it been done years ago. The money and skill level now needed for this project, even with state personnel at the helm who have been unable to fix its problems, requires a change.

No one likes change, but if Hawai'i is ever to have a well-planned marina community, it needs long-term professional care with asset-positive base input from all parties.

There are boaters who really care about the Ala Wai and other harbors, as well. I know that. But many choose not to care. The lease that is planned could very well be bid by a group of boaters who really do care.

The risk, if assumed by individual boaters, would be very hard for many current boaters without government-assisted loans or performance bonds.

But if we keep an open mind and give the process a chance, we can see if it will work as proposed. With a private investor at the helm, the state can hold them responsible. However, when the state operates a marina, only the people of Hawai'i can hold the state responsible.

Ala Wai belongs to all the surfers, paddlers, sailors, yachtsman and small fishermen alike; not just to a few who do not like change.

I do agree that we need to get rid of deadbeats and maintain the property. But the idea of parking meters at Ala Wai is not well thought out. A daily or weekly pass could be part of the package, allowing those individuals reasonable full access to the area.

Prospective investors for this project surely want to make money in building or updating marinas as they are developed. The old ones will be repaired as the demand grows.

Open debate is great when we deal with change, but we need to work with it in the present system.

Boaters working with developers and users of the Ala Wai, or any harbor, need to better communicate, but on a positive note. We must remember the sea and the land are the people's property and good stewardship is required by all of us.