(Honolulu)- Effective now, all DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR) restrooms statewide at State small boat harbors and boat ramps will be reopening, to observe CDC guidance for ensuring availability of toilets and hand washing facilities for people experiencing homelessness during this COVID-19 emergency. All DOBOR restroom facilities will be open continuously seven days a week until further notice.
Boating & Ocean Recreations
(Honolulu) – Salvage teams from Parker Marine will be working today and possibly tomorrow in another attempt to free sailing vessel Prelude from shallow waters off Kaimana Beach on O‘ahu’s south shore. The boat grounded on a reef, about 300 feet off-shore, on Sunday. An earlier attempt to free it wasn’t successful due to strong winds, the water depth, and the position of the boat on the reef.
(Honolulu) – A new law passed during the 2019 legislative session requires that all applicable vessels have insurance with a minimum of $100,000 in coverage that will cover the removal and salvage of a grounded vessel.
(Honolulu) – An engineer estimates it will take at least $8 million to repair extensive damage at the Kawaihae North Small Boat Harbor on Hawai‘i Island caused by massive swells during a New Year’s eve and day storm event.
(Honolulu) – The owner of a 112 foot-long, twin-engine, fishing boat has one week to move his vessel before the DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR) conducts a public auction of the boat.
(Honolulu) - Two proposals were received for the development of parcels of land at the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor on O’ahu. After review, neither of the proposals was selected. For now, the DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR), has concluded the Request for Proposals (RFP) process and it expects a new and potentially revised RFP will be reissued at a later date.
(Hilo) – Administrative fines totaling $48,500 have been affirmed by Circuit Judge Greg K. Nakamura in a Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) decision against illegal commercial lava boat tours on Hawai‘i Island; in a ruling issued on September 27, 2019. Those fined are Henry K. Pomroy, Bill A. Fujimoto, and Ho‘okupu Fish Company, LLC.
(Honolulu) – Today, following-up on a citizen complaint, officers from the DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) recovered an estimated 1,000 feet of unattended lay net within Kaneohe Bay.
(Kailua-Kona) – The largest cruise ship to ever make a port call to Kailua-Kona, Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas, with well over 4,000 passengers onboard will anchor in Kailua Bay from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00p.m. on Sunday, September 29th and begin tendering passengers to the Kailua Pier.
(Honolulu) – Fee increases for users of Hawai‘i small boat harbors and boating facilities will be implemented soon, after they were signed into law by Governor David Ige on August 13, 2019. “Our goal was to set fees that are fair according to use,” said Ed Underwood, Administrator for DLNR's Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR). "DOBOR is only allowed to collect fees to pay for expenses of operating, maintaining, and managing our facilities. The revenues from the fee increases over time will help to reduce the significant backlog of deferred maintenance so we can make our harbors safe and appealing once again.”