{"id":5678,"date":"2019-05-23T20:46:31","date_gmt":"2019-05-23T20:46:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hawaiioceannews.com\/?p=5678"},"modified":"2019-05-23T20:53:24","modified_gmt":"2019-05-23T20:53:24","slug":"boaters-will-pay-for-dlnr-bungling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hawaiioceannews.com\/index.php\/2019\/05\/23\/boaters-will-pay-for-dlnr-bungling\/","title":{"rendered":"Recreational Boaters to Pay for Commercial Wreck Clean-ups with Hefty Fee Increases"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThe Navatek Fiasco Informs Boaters About the 13-234 Boater Fee Increase Proposal\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Recreational boaters will pay for any incident involving commercial vessels that have been allowed to participate in the public harbor system, with money being provided by the Boating Special Fund.\u00a0 The Navatek fiasco, for example, will be funded by monies in the Fund bolstered by proposed recreational boating fee increases.<\/span><\/p>\n

We have been told by DLNR representatives that when commercial vessels, such as the Navatek \u2013 the 82\u2019, 149 passenger commercial cruise ship, dumped in the Ala Wai public recreational boat harbor via authorization from DoBOR Administrator, Ed Underwood \u2013 that RECREATIONAL BOATERS will be liable for the damages.<\/span><\/p>\n

Recreational boating fees are used to fund the Special Boating Fund which is used to maintain the boating system throughout Hawaii.\u00a0 When the fund begins to run dry, mainly, as it turns out, due to administrative mess-ups on the part of the DLNR and DoBOR, boaters are then asked to pay still higher fees to cover for the bungling.<\/span><\/p>\n

Almost no one has a problem with paying higher fees, if they can see improvements in the State\u2019s harbors.\u00a0 But, in Hawaii, higher fees do not translate into better facilities and services.\u00a0 Case in point:\u00a0 under the disastrous tenure of DLNR Chair, Laura Thielen, seven years ago, there was a huge boater fee increase.\u00a0 Since that time, the harbor system has dramatically DECLINED, mainly as a result of repeated DLNR bungling which left the fund without monies for harbor maintenance, improvements, or much needed better services.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dan Dennison, the DLNR\u2019s senior communications manager, and chief snow machine for Suzanne Case\u2019s DLNR, wants us to believe that it\u2019s the BOATER\u2019S fault that higher fees are being proposed.\u00a0 The boater\u2019s fault.\u00a0 For example, in his latest made-for-media snowstorm, he quote\u2019s talking head, Meghan Statts as blaming boaters for not having salvage insurance on their vessels.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Statts was specifically referring to the commercial vessel, the Navatek, that 82\u2019, 149 passenger commercial cruise ship that was wink-nodded into the Ala Wai\u2019s recreational boat harbor, by Ed Underwood.\u00a0 The repeated sinking of this vessel, the lack of response by the DLNR, and the ridiculous final solution \u2013 dragging this monstrosity up over the top of a seawall with a bulldozer, damaging the seawall and the vessel bottom \u2013 all to be paid for by Hawaii\u2019s recreational boaters.<\/span><\/p>\n

Boaters are asked to vigorously protest the DLNR\u2019s proposal for more money from innocent recreational boaters. \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The name of the fee increase rules change is Chapter 13-234, Boater Fee Increase Rules Package.\u00a0 Write to the following people, repeatedly, in protest.\u00a0 Better, call them.\u00a0 And when 13-234 comes up before the DLNR Board, go there in person and oppose the fleecing of Hawaii\u2019s boaters.<\/span><\/p>\n

Suzanne Case, Chair, DLNR:\u00a0 suzanne.case@hawaii.gov<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

DLNR Board (BLNR):\u00a0 blnr.testimony@hawaii.gov<\/a> , dlnr@hawaii.gov<\/a> \u00a0and include the following message at the top of your email: PLEASE FORWARD THIS MESSAGE TO EVERY BLNR BOARDMEMBER \u2013 PLEASE CONFIRM BY EMAIL THAT THIS HAS BEEN DONE<\/span><\/p>\n

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On another, but not unrelated, topic . . .<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

In a previous article<\/a> we cited Lanai's Manele Bay privatization attempt by misguided legislators not paying attention to the will of the people. Below, we ask that you add your name to the growing number of residents who oppose the act of privatization of public lands and assets.<\/span><\/p>\n

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