Updated at 4:46 p.m., Friday, January 25, 2008
Most parking spaces to remain free at Ala Wai harbor
Advertiser Staff
More than half of the 1,000 parking spaces at the Ala Wai Boat Harbor will remain free for the time being after more than 100 beachgoers and boat owners showed up at a Board of Land and Natural Resources meeting to protest a proposed fee increase. The rule changes would have implemented or increase fees for all but 130 stalls.The board considered parking issues for more than three hours before deciding to send the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation back out for another round of public hearings to develop a parking plan more palatable to harbor users.
Meanwhile, however, the board did approve the rule change that will eventually allow the division to collect parking fees from harbor users if it comes up with a plan that appeals to the board.
Board members made clear that the proposal floated yesterday would not pass muster.
The Division had proposed to reserve 130 spots for beachgoers at the harbor's helipad site, hire a vendor to charge prevailing public parking prices for the rest of the unpermitted spots and raise parking permit fees for slipholders from $20 a year to $25 a month.
No one testified in support of the department's proposal.
