DLNR HOLDS PUBLIC MEETING DECEMBER 2 ON PLAN FOR NON-RESIDENT ENTRY FEES AT AKAKA FALLS STATE PARK
The meeting will occur from 5 to 6 p.m. in the 1st floor conference rooms of the Hilo State Office Building, 75 Aupuni Street, Hilo. “Funding for operation and maintenance of state recreational facilities such as parks, small boat harbors and forest trails has been drastically reduced in the current biennium budget. To ensure that these areas can be cared for and remain open, the Department is moving forward with its plan to generate new revenues to offset the cost of managing them,” said Laura H. Thielen, DLNR chairperson. “Through implementation of small entry or parking fees for non-resident visitors and commercial tours to high traffic parks, we can apply revenues to repairs and maintenance to help the park system become more self-sufficient,” Thielen said. At the Hilo meeting, State Parks staff will explain that DLNR is only charging out-of-state visitors and commercial tour companies, and how the fees will be structured and collected. Implementing small fees for non-residents only at ‘Akaka Falls will begin once a revocable permit is finalized for a private sector parking company to manage the fee collection. |
