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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Sunday, September 7, 2003

Concessionaires may take over some state campsites

Associated Press

The state may expand some of its camping areas and lease them to concessionaires.

The areas include Ka'ena Point and Mokule'ia on O'ahu, Makena on Maui, and Hapuna on the Big Island.

State Land Board Chairman Peter Young said a concession operation would generate some revenue for the state and allow the campsites to be operated without tax money.

Young says he hopes to have a draft proposal ready to present to the Board of Land and Natural Resources this month or in October. Public meetings will be held once the Land Board approves the concessionaire concept, he said.

Cabins, a gift shop and restaurant at Koke'e on Kaua'i are operated under a concessionaire agreement, and part of state park land at Malaekahana in Windward O'ahu is operated under a similar agreement by a nonprofit group, Young said.

Selection of a concessionaire would be made through a request for proposals, allowing potential bidders to discuss how they would establish and operate the campsites at a specific park, Young said.

"It's not finding someone who wants to pay the most money," he said.

Camping charges to the public would vary and would be set by the Land Board, he said.