Many of the state's 21 small-boat harbors are in dire need of repair, from damaged walkways to entire docks that are falling apart.

But the state's Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation, which runs the harbors, barely generates enough revenue each year to meet operating expenses.

"We have well over $200 million in repairs to get done, and our annual budget is less than $15 million. Do the math," said Mike Jones, assistant O'ahu district boating manager. "It ain't going to happen."

In the past several years, the state has appropriated more money — mostly in the form of general obligation bonds that have to be repaid with interest — to fund capital improvements at the harbors.

This year the harbors got about $32 million from the state for major improvements, $11 million of which the division has to pay back. Five years ago, it received $7.2 million, $6.7 million of which had to be repaid.

While the extra funding helps, it isn't enough to pay for all the work needed.

So besides asking the Legislature for more money, the division has decided this year to raise its historically low user fees — including parking and ramp use permit fees — to harbor tenants.

But many tenants aren't convinced the extra money will improve the poor conditions.

"It's frustrating," said Dan Malone, 65, of Hawai'i Kai, who has kept his 38-foot sailboat at the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor for about 25 years. "They just don't care about the facilities, basically. Everything's run down. It's a disappointment. You're embarrassed to take anyone down here."

PUSHING THE LIMITS

Facilities at many of these harbors were built more than 30 years ago — the generally accepted lifespan of docks. Over the years these facilities became worn and damaged by constant use and the elements.

Today, entire docks, some with 70 boat slips, need to be replaced. Electrical systems need to be upgraded. Deck surfaces need to be restored. The list goes on.

"There's just a whole myriad of things that need to get done," Jones said. "Not one harbor is free of major work to bring it up to speed."

Fixing the harbors hasn't been as high on the state's priority list as other projects, such as repairing schools and pedestrian safety initiatives.

"I think the reason why these harbors fall in such disrepair is because they don't make the priority list for the administration," said Senate President Colleen Hanabusa, D-21st (Nanakuli, Makaha), who helped secure $1.7 million for improvements to the Wai'anae Small Boat Harbor this year.

The Wai'anae harbor is an important source of pride for the Leeward Coast, Hanabusa added, and keeping it well-maintained is critical for recreational boaters and fishermen who rely on it.

"Not only does it serve as an economic base ... it's one of the busiest and most utilized harbors in the state," she said. "It's a place where people come together. It brings people from all over the island to the Wai'anae Coast. It does serve a major purpose."

NOT A LOT LEFT OVER

The harbors generate about $14 million in revenue through permit and mooring fees each year.

Annual operating expenses for the harbors can add up to around $12 million, not including the cost to retrieve and remove boats that have run aground or sunk in state waters. That can cost the division between $20,000 and $100,000 per boat, much of which it can't recoup from boat owners who don't have boating insurance.

Five of the state's 21 small-boat harbors — Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor and Ke'ehi Harbor on O'ahu, Lahaina Small Boat Harbor and Ma'alaea Small Boat Harbor on Maui, and Honokohau Small Boat Harbor on the Big Island — generate the bulk of the revenue, which is shared by all the harbors statewide.

But with dozens of slips and docks damaged, the harbors can't rent them out.

There are nearly 300 slips out of service on O'ahu alone, a potential loss of $48,860 in revenue a month. The Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor has the most out-of-service slips with 150, losing about $28,875 a month.

"That's a huge chunk of revenue-generating capacity that's not there," Jones said. "It's very, very tough to make money when your money generators (docks) are laying on the bottom of the harbor."

To boost its revenues, the division has decided to increase user fees, something it hasn't done in more than a decade.

In March, ramp use permit fees and mooring rates went up for boat users to help pay for overdue repairs to harbors statewide.

Rates will increase over three years, generating an estimated $500,000 to $750,000 annually with each increment.

Ramp user permit fees will jump from $25 to $40 a year for anyone renewing their annual permits after May 1.

PARKING FEE HIKE

The division also wants to raise parking fees for harbor tenants at the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor from $20 a year to $420 a year, which is comparable to the rates city and county employees pay. A final decision on that proposal is still months away, and is pending a round of public hearings.

(The public parking at the helipad at the small-boat harbor, used often by surfers and paddlers, will likely remain free. The division wants to close the lot between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. to deter overnight parking and crime.)

The boating division is even considering adding marina-related tenants such as shops and restaurants that can help improve the harbor while paying rent.

And officials will request $28 million in the upcoming legislative session for harbor improvements.

The state harbors charge some of the lowest mooring rates in the nation.

Even after the first increase, slip fees are less than $6 per foot per month for each vessel for recreational boat users. Fees at private marinas, such as Ko Olina Marina, start at $11 per foot.

The slip fees at state harbors include utilities, which can add up at harbors with "live-aboards," or boaters who live on their vessels. (Only Ala Wai and Ke'ehi harbors allow live-aboards.)

It costs the harbor about $2,700 for water and $9,000 for electricity a month at the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor alone, said Meghan Statts, O'ahu district manager and former harbormaster.

Part of her job has been fielding questions — and complaints — from harbor tenants about the condition of the harbor.

"I think what (people) need to understand is that monies we receive from mooring at the harbors is not enough to fund a lot of the repairs in the facilities," she said. "(But) people are starting to understand our funding situation."

This year the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor is finally getting some much-needed repairs, including the replacing of an entire 70-slip dock and the resurfacing of walkways.

Three more concrete docks are scheduled to be replaced with easier-to-maintain aluminum docks next year.

TEMPORARY FIXES

The division has done its best to make minor repairs to the docks, from screwing down plywood to leveling out walkways. But these are temporary solutions to a much broader problem.

"We've bought additional life out of them, but now these docks need to be replaced," said Ed Underwood, division administrator, taking a walk around the damaged docks at the Ala Wai last week. "We've been accused of not doing the necessary repairs, but the way these docks are built, there's nothing we can do to repair them. They need to be replaced."

Malone, who takes his sailboat out of the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor about three times a week, hopes the state improves the "rundown" facilities.

He doesn't mind paying more in fees if the harbor gets fixed.

"I just want a nice place to park the boat and bring people down," Malone said. "Right now, there's not much of anything. I'd be happy with just updated docks, docks in good shape. I don't need swimming pools or those sort of things. I just want the marina itself to be in better repair."

Reach Catherine E. Toth at ctoth@honoluluadvertiser.com.