Off-roading park is part of proposal

KAHULUI - Dirt bikers and all-terrain vehicle riders showed up in force Friday night at a meeting to discuss the state's proposed "Recreational Renaissance," a program of state parks projects that includes an off-road vehicle park that riders have wanted more than 30 years.

The proposed 669.5-acre Wahikuli trail riding park would provide 30 to 40 miles of trails on state lands located about a mile and a quarter mauka of the Lahaina Civic Center, said Torrie Nohara, the state Na Ala Hele Trails and Access Program Maui manager.

The property that reaches into the mountains above Wahikuli is bordered on the right and left by two privately owned and undeveloped parcels of land, and is bordered makai by the Honokohau ditch and state land, she said.

If funding is approved by the Legislature, the first phase of the project would start in 2012, officials said. Total budget for the off-road vehicle park is $3 million.

The Wahikuli project is just one element of the Department of Land & Natural Resources' "Recreational Renaissance," which calls for spending $240 million on 238 capital improvement projects over five years. Maui County would get nearly $41 million for 39 projects.

The program announced earlier this year by Gov. Linda Lingle aims to upgrade state parks and small-boat harbors.

DLNR officials from Oahu and Maui were on hand at the Maui Waena Intermediate School Cafeteria Friday night to answer questions about the plan.

Dirt bikers and ATV riders gave strong support to the proposed off-road park, saying the plan was long overdue.

"I think it's really good," said rider Derek Fabella.

But the Kihei resident wanted the park to come sooner, and said the Wahikuli riding area should be built before other proposed projects in the five-year "Recreational Renaissance" plan.

Fabella, who was among around 50 off-road trail riders attending the meeting, noted that while other groups, like boaters, already have facilities on Maui, dirt bikers and ATV riders have nowhere to go.

"We don't even have a legal place to ride," he said.

Without legal trails, trespassing riders have become a nuisance for private landowners.

As part of its "Renaissance" proposal, DLNR officials have said they would look at instituting fees at some parks. Rent from state commercial and industrial land and leases and concession fees from parks and small-boat harbors would also help cover program costs.

For Maui, officials said previously that they will consider entry fees for visitors - not Hawaii residents - at Iao and Makena state parks.

At least some riders said they would be willing to pay a fee to use the Wahikuli off-road vehicle park.

"I don't mind paying money," said rider Leslie Fernandez.

Fernandez, 42, said off-road riders have been pushing for a legal place to trail ride since 1978. Now there is only a track at the old Puunene airfield, but he said track riding is different from trail riding.

He said he'd write to legislators to try to build support for the project.

Meetings on the "Recreational Renaissance" are being held statewide to inform residents and gather input on proposed projects, said Curt Cotrell, assistant administrator for the DLNR state parks division.

He said the meetings are also meant to build public support for the plan, which requires legislative approval of $40 million in general obligation bonds, and an additional $200 million in bonds that would be reimbursed by new fees and other revenues.

In one subgroup at Friday's meeting, County Council Member Mike Victorino said he wanted to make sure that local residents will not be charged a fee when going to beach parks such as Makena.

"I don't want to see the park where you got to pay to get in," he said. "I'm not too keen on that stuff."

But he said if needed, he wouldn't mind paying a little more to stay in an improved cabin at Waianapanapa.

Longtime Makena State Park advocate George Harker handed out his wish list of 22 suggestions for the park in the Renaissance plan.

Those included having the park open 24 hours every day, allowing camping and alcoholic beverages and also having lifeguards.

He also wrote that the state should allow activities at Makena that seem natural, such as night fishing, having a fire, hiking and kayak launching.

Melissa Tanji can be reached at mtanji@mauinews.com.