Dinah: I really feel that now is not the time to start charging fees for our natural resources to tourists. The industry is already struggling. Can you explain the need for fees and what this money will be used for? When will this take effect?

Laura Thielen: Entry fees have long been used in all our National Parks, most state parks and many international parks. We are proposing to use the same entry fee currently in place at Diamond Head — $1 for walk-ins, $5 for cars — for tourists only. Residents will remain free. The funds will go to support approximately $150 million in capital improvements at parks, as well as the adoption of model repair and maintenance standards to keep these places clean and safe.

Currently, the state funds our parks at about $85,000 per park/per year. This is simply not enough to keep these areas clean, safe and repaired. We believe many tourists are used to park entry fees and do support fees, so long as they are used to maintain parks and park programs.

Nahoaloha: How is the effort to beef up the State Historic Preservation Division going? That office has been chronically understaffed, and I'm concerned about big projects like the rail being held up due to shortages in staffing dealing with the review of burials.

Thielen: The Historic Preservation Division now has a fully staffed management team and additional new staff. We are current with most of our reviews. We're working proactively to address the many projects that will be coming out of the stimulus effort. We're also working with partners on updating our State Historic Preservation Plan, which provides guidance for our future efforts.

Nani: Overall, I like the concept of this large improvement plan, but public access to beaches and the shoreline is very important to me. Will the Recreational Renaissance be preventing any of this through fees, or any other restrictions of entry?

Thielen: The Renaissance will provide residents with greater access to recreational spaces. We are proposing to expand Sand Island to include an ocean recreation area. On the Big Island, we also are proposing to open the national historic trail, which we'll co-manage with the National Park Service.

We will not be charging residents entry fees. Most of the costs will be paid by long-term leases on urban lands. We simply want to make these places better for all of us, so our families can enjoy outdoor recreation in the ocean, campgrounds, cabins and trails around the state.

Donnell: People want to use the parks but no one volunteers to maintain it. Is there a volunteer program set up? Parks cannot maintain themselves.

Thielen: We do have many volunteer programs in our parks and we welcome people to help us maintain and enrich these areas. Contact our Parks Division at 587-0300 to find out about volunteer opportunities near you.

John: With places now falling apart at beaches from all the years of neglect, how does DLNR plan to keep any new improvements/construction under this plan up to date and lasting even after five years?

Thielen: DLNR will adopt the National Park Service repair and maintenance standards for our land-based recreational facilities, and the California Marina Standards for the repair and maintenance of our ocean recreation facilities. This will be the first time the department has adopted specific maintenance standards. We agree keeping these new facilities in top repair is key to protecting the people's investment.

The park entry fees for tourists and harbor fees will support the repair and maintenance in their respective areas.

Glenn: As a recreational boater from Hilo, why do you keep representing the $200 million reimbursable general obligation bonds will not be paid by taxpayers, when in fact, the DLNR land lease revenue goes into the state general fund?

Isn't the redirection of DLNR land lease revenue from state general fund into the Renaissance special fund using taxpayer's monies?

Thielen: The Recreational Renaissance will provide $200 million in capital improvements that will not be paid by taxpayers. The bond debt will be paid by a combination of commercial lease rents on state lands in urban areas, a small increase in harbor fees, and a modest entry fee paid by tourists only — residents remain free — at up to eight state parks with high visitor counts.

DLNR lease revenues do not go into the general fund. They go to a special fund in DLNR. DLNR will transfer some existing lease revenues from that special fund to pay the debt service, and develop vacant urban lands, like in Kapolei next to UH-West O'ahu, to pay the bond debt. There will be no loss to the general fund or cost to the taxpayers for this $200 million in capital improvements.

Richard: Does this renaissance plan require approval from the Legislature?

Thielen: Yes, the Renaissance needs legislative approval. First, we need certain laws passed. Second, we need them to approve our budget to make capital improvements. No department can do any capital improvements unless the Legislature authorizes us to do so — even if we have the money to pay for them.

The House majority has supported all the statutory changes necessary. Those are now awaiting Senate hearing. Sen. Clayton Hee promised to hear the legislation if it passed the House, but has yet to schedule a hearing.

The House did give us some bond authority, but neglected to give us a small amount of general obligation bonds to kick start the process.

We need some state help to start improvements in parks so we can generate revenues. We're still in discussion with them on the budget. We have the canoe, but still need the paddles to get started.

Lou: You will be spending roughly $240 million to upgrade parks. Why do it now during a recession?

Thielen: We need the upgrades now more than ever.

First, these upgrades will mean jobs for many small businesses. We have approximately 240 contracts for capital improvements on six islands — and these are not specialized construction. $30 million are ready to bid for construction the first year; $20 million are ready to bid for construction the second year.

Second, we need these areas upgraded now since our residents are staying home and relying on free and low-cost recreation during a tough economy. Our cabins and campgrounds are in horrible condition, and they need to be fixed up. Our boat launch ramps and piers are used daily by local fishermen and people to sustain their diets. We have facilities literally collapsed and are unusable, and they hurt residents' ability to sustain themselves.

Third, we need to fix these areas because they support our tourism economy. Over 6 million tourists a year visit our parks. They are met with shabby restrooms and little to no interpretive programs. We need to welcome them with world-class facilities to keep them returning and to keep our economy healthy.

Reach Laura Thielen at (Unknown address).