In a compromise with ocean users that took more than a year to hammer out, the state Land Board yesterday agreed to keep 300 parking stalls at Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor free, while converting 266 to paid stalls at 25 cents an hour.

The plan still has its critics, but for many it's a big improvement from the state's original proposal to do away with most or all free parking stalls at the harbor — a popular ocean access point for hundreds of surfers, paddlers and beachgoers every day.

"It really took us a lot to kind of swallow everything," said David Napoleon of Common Ground Hawaii, a coalition of surfing, paddling and other groups that formed to discuss the parking options. "But it was good that we could get together."

The five-member state Land Board unanimously approved the parking plan after hearing nearly two hours of testimony. The impetus behind the plan is twofold: Officials hope to generate some income (though it's unclear how much) from the paid parking, which would go to harbor improvements, while also better managing the area.

The lot fills up quickly on weekends and holidays, forcing some to go elsewhere.

Construction and hotel workers also often use the lot, which is why in addition to instituting paid parking at the harbor, the state will erect signs to say that the parking area is for ocean and harbor users only. The plan approved yesterday also will close the free parking area from 10:30 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. to clamp down on after-hours problems.

The new hours could go into effect in a week.

The next step in the parking process is for the state to choose an interim parking vendor under a revocable month-to-month permit that would manage the stalls and collect fees. The vendor would also restripe the parking lot, potentially to increase the number of available spaces. Any of the new spaces in designated free areas would remain free.

The paid parking area will not have gates, but a collection box.

The stalls could be converted as early as this year, but the state Land Board would have to approve the vendor's permit first.

There are currently 549 free stalls at the harbor. The remaining stalls are for permitted and existing metered parking.

Ed Underwood, the administrator of the state Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation, which oversees harbors, initially proposed yesterday that the rate for the paid parking in the area be $1 per hour. At that rate, annual revenues generated by the 300 stalls would be about $800,000. He couldn't say how much of that would go to the parking vendor. The remaining income would go into the state Harbors Fund.

Underwood said he has had several discussions with parking vendors, but has not been able to determine the lowest rate the state could charge while still generating enough money to pay a vendor and get some proceeds. The board said that if the 25-cent-an-hour rate doesn't make financial sense for a vendor, it would consider increasing the fee.

Claudia Charters, a longtime live-aboard boater at the harbor, spoke out against the proposal yesterday, saying people are already financially strapped and can't handle any increase in parking fees.

"It feels, frankly, like a slap in the face," she told the board.

Melissa Ling-Ing, of Common Ground, agreed people are "maxed out" and said the parking fees will force some people to go elsewhere to surf, paddle or swim.

"We want to keep all 549 stalls free," she said, but added that keeping 300 free stalls was an OK trade off.

Bruce Middleton, a boater, said the compromise is "not a bad one."

"It certainly is a step in the right direction," he said.

He added that the board's decision, as part of the parking plan vote, to form an ad-hoc committee of harbor and ocean users to monitor the implementation of the parking area will allow everyone to get their voice heard.

"It means there will be meaningful participation on behalf of all the stakeholders in the harbor," he said.