The state land board is expected to decide today whether the Department of Land and Natural Resources should charge a fee for some public parking at small-boat harbors, a controversial plan that likely would affect Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor first.

Groups that oppose the plan fear that the fee would deny or restrict access to the ocean cherished by surfers and other recreational users.

The Ala Wai harbor is the last free parking available to the public in Waikiki, said Melissa Ling-Ing, a board member of Common Ground Hawai'i, which opposes the changes to DLNR's administrative rules.

"If this rule change is approved many ocean users would no longer have access to the beaches and surf breaks that border this harbor," Ling-Ing said in a written statement. "We are also concerned about the safety of ocean users who can not pay the proposed parking fees and may put themselves at risk by trying to cross the Ala Wai harbor entrance."

Many of the state's 21 small-boat harbors are in dire need of repair, and the proposed parking fees are part of a plan to help raise money to address everything from damaged walkways to docks that are falling apart.

The proposed rule changes include reducing the maximum parking time from 72 hours to 24 hours and setting vehicle parking fees equal to city parking fees.

Harbor tenants would pay $25 a month (up from $20 a year at Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor), temporary passes would cost $10 for a 24-hour period and harbor employees would pay $90 a month, said Ed Underwood, administrator for the DLNR Boating & Ocean Recreation Division.

There would be some free spaces, though, near the helipad next to the Hilton lagoon, according to Underwood.

"It's important for people to know that we are setting aside 130 parking stalls for recreational harbor use at no charge when currently in the rules we can meter the entire area," he said.

If the board approves the rule change, it must go to the lieutenant governor, then the attorney general and back to the lieutenant governor for final approval.

Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com.