The Department of Land and Natural Resources impounded three boats at Ala Wai Yacht Harbor Wednesday morning, after receiving numerous complaints about boats docking without permits. But the problems don’t end there.
The Ala Wai Yacht Harbor is a community of its own, with residents, visitors, and even a neighborhood watch. And with recent complaints of illegal activity occurring at the Harbor, the DLNR is cracking down.
"On the 800 row there’s a bunch of derelict vessels which just means that these people are mooring their boats illegally, not coming into the harbor and getting permits. We’re working with our enforcement officers as well as HPD to remove these boats from the situation," says DLNR’s Meghan Statts.
Three vessels were recently removed and secured with chains to an impounding station. The owners have thirty days to get their boat back by paying all of the back fees, which, in the past, have been upwards of 4000 dollars. If the owners do not claim the boat, the State will then survey its worth.
"If it’s worth more than five thousand dollars, it will be put out to auction if it’s under five thousand, according to the law, we will dispose of the boat," says Statts.
But the issue goes beyond illegal mooring. Boat owners say that camp sites have been set up along the "800 row" and that they have become wary of the activity surrounding the area.
Boat owner Janet Mandrell says, "There appeared to be drug problems, ice problems."
Boat owners say this has been an ongoing problem for far too long, but some fear the retribution they could face should they complain.
"The individuals would be identified and their cars would be keyed," says Mandrell.
"They actually keyed my old van," says boat owner Eli Strawn.
Other owners even waking up to human feces smeared on their car door handles. The DLNR says impounding vessels is only the beginning of an ongoing effort to clean up the Harbor.
DLNR says they have impounded more than fifty boats on Oahu this year.
This is the second phase at the Ala Wai Yacht Harbor, and they plan to return again later this month.
See the original article at: KHON2 Local News
