ALA WAI — The state has embarked on a multi-million dollar dock renovation project at the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor, beginning this week with the replacement of F dock.

Using a $10 million appropriation that was matched with money raised by increasing fees on harbor users and boaters, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources expects to replace four docks in the next 18 months, said Laura Thielen, DLNR chairwoman.

While most of the $10 million will be used at the Ala Wai, the appropriation will also pay for projects at boat harbors across the state, Thielen said yesterday .

"Many of the piers here are past their life expectancy and they do need to be replaced because repair and maintenance is not sufficient," she said. "We have a very ambitious capital improvement schedule for this harbor over the next few years and we're hopeful the governor will continue the support with the lump-sum appropriation."

The Ala Wai harbor passed its prime many years ago and residents and boat owners have questioned the state's management of the facility.

The state charges fees for the slips and the money goes into a harbor general fund that is used to maintain harbors throughout the state.

Ala Wai boat owners at the harbor were pleased by the project but chastised the state for allowing the harbor's facilities to fall into disrepair, forcing some pier closures that cost the state revenue.

"That one (F dock) has been out of commission for three years," said Mac Oliver, who lives on his boat. "They could have paid for that dock with the loss of revenues. What's upsetting to all of us is they complain about the lack of revenue but it has to do with bad management."

Much of the money from fees collected at Ala Wai has gone to other harbors and that should stop, said Susan Ray, a boat owner.

"There's no reason for all of it to not come back here until the harbor is fixed," Ray said.

Gov. Linda Lingle released $1.65 million in March 2006 for the design and construction of F dock, which is being replaced with an aluminum floating dock system.

The original concrete dock was installed in 1972 and demolished in 2004.

It will cost $935,000 to install the 650-foot-long aluminum dock, which is 8 feet wide and has finger piers running off each side that will accommodate 70 boats.

Eric Yuasa, head of the DLNR engineering branch, said the floating aluminum system, which is manufactured in Waialua by Bluewater Marine, would last longer than a concrete dock. It's also more versatile, he said.

"Everything is modular," Yuasa said. "If there's damage you can replace the segment." That can't be done with concrete, he added.

The state has spent about $30 million in the past 4 1/2 years for boating projects.

Statewide, there's still about $250,000 in repair work to be done, said Ed Underwood, administrator for DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation.

Boaters and harbor users are paying a share of the projects, Underwood said, adding that the state increased user fees about 33 percent this year.

Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com.