The state's plan to raise or implement user fees at recreational facilities and to restrict access to an island in Käne'ohe Bay came under fire last night at a public hearing to discuss the proposed rules.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources held the hearing at Jefferson Elementary School in Waikíkí on proposed amendments to rules for state parks, boating and recreation facilities, and forestry and wildlife areas. It was the last in a series of hearings statewide to gather public comment on the DLNR's "Recreational Renaissance Plan B."

The state last year proposed its Recreational Renaissance plan, in which it would issue bonds over five years and raise $240 million to repair the state's deteriorating parks and harbors. But the Legislature failed to pass the bill and DLNR rolled out Plan B, also called the "Back to Basics" proposal.

The plan is projected to raise $8 million annually by raising fees at campgrounds and small boat harbors, as well as imposing a new parking charge for tourists at eight of the state's most heavily used parks.

The proposal also would allow for public shooting ranges statewide, as well as update rules governing state wildlife sanctuaries and add six areas to the list of protected areas.

Most of the people who testified last night spoke against the plan to raise mooring rates at state harbors. The state characterized the increases as "modest," but the more than 15 people who spoke on the issue said the hikes would be anything but modest.

Bill Mossman, who represented the Hawaii Boaters Political Action Association, said that under the plan, mooring fees would increase 61 percent at Ala Wai Harbor and up to 92 percent at five Neighbor Island harbors.

Jeannie Light, who owns Ala Wai Yacht brokerage with her husband, agreed. She said the plan to raise the temporary mooring fees will be unfair to residents who have to wait for years while they await a permanent slip, as well as to visitors.

She estimated that the transient fee at the Ala Wai for a 31-foot vessel would jump from $6.15 a day to $62 a day under the proposal.

"Do you want to further harm Hawai'i's reputation by gouging its tourist boaters?" Light testified. "Instead of welcoming boaters with open arms, you're telling them, 'We don't want you here unless you're rich enough to pay our exorbitant fees."

Also criticized last night was a plan to place Käne'ohe Bay's Kapapa Island on a list of protected wildlife sanctuaries. The island is popular with residents who use it to fish and camp, but it also has attracted tourists and other commercial activity.

Several people testified that the island needs to be protected, but the proposed rules would place too many restrictions on the use of the island, including over-night camping. But Angie Hiilei Kawelo testified that, ironically, the proposed rules would allow limited use of certain sanctuaries for commercial purposes, an idea that she opposes.

"For the most part, I'm in support of the rules," Kawelo said. "There was a caveat for a commercial permit being allowed and Kapapa was on that list. A'ole. That is so not cool; I do not want to see any commercial activity on that island."

The public has until Nov. 19 to submit comments. E-mail comments to RecreationalRenaissance@hawaii.gov. The Board of Land and Natural Resources may vote on the plan on Dec. 11.