Situated at a prime waterfront site, Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor borders upscale stretches of Waikiki and fashion-forward Ala Moana Center. By comparison, the state’s largest small-boat harbor, with 752 berths, is scruffy and overdue for an upgrade.

In the aftermath of a failed public-private partnership — one that envisioned restaurants, retail and office space as well as a boating facility on state-owned land edging the harbor’s waters — the Waikiki community is left with the blight of a lingering construction site. Recreational sailors and boaters lack access to an on-site fuel dock and a boat-repair station. Both were torn down to make way for development that looked good on paper.

Now, with the state back at square one, many area residents appear to be leery about any development at the site beyond limited recreation or boating-related improvements.

That skepticism was apparent at an “envisioning” meeting hosted on Tuesday by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR) and its consultant DTL to solicit community input on potential redevelopment of slightly more than 3 acres of dry and submerged lands at the mouth of the Ala Wai Canal. The event drew 165 attendees, who submitted nearly a few hundred comments. Wariness of the state’s intent, however, prompted some attendees to walk out without offering feedback.

That’s unfortunate because the state now appears to be more attentive to the community’s concerns, compared to its handling of the process in 2009 that led to selection of Honey Bee USA to transform parcels widely regarded as underused. The vision of the $24 million “Waikiki Landing” project faded in subsequent years when the developer failed to secure funding.

The project had hinged on establishing a lively, revenue-generating venue in three stories of commercial space. Such a makeover — with appropriate harbor-focused recreation and entertainment offerings — still makes sense, and could easily attract a steady stream of both tourists and local residents, with some revenue reserved for ongoing boating facility repairs and maintenance.

This time around, in addition to worries about a repeat of the Honey Bee flop, the community input process is peppered with anxiety tied to a 2011 state law that makes it possible for a public-private partnership to build virtually any structure that is allowed in densely populated Waikiki.

State Rep. Tom Brower, who represents the area, said “nearly anything would be lawful” because the “rule-making process was relaxed.” However, he added, “It’s my understanding there’s no desire from the state to build something tall. I believe (DOBOR) envisions some sort of low-rise development with amenities and services for boaters and tourists.”

Many area residents are rightly worried that the option to build a high-rise is not off the table. Many are flatly opposed to any call for dense development, including view-blocking condominiums, as well as anything that diminishes the harbor’s boating mission or interferes with the public access to the shoreline. These are all valid concerns, and the state must heed them.

Regarding the envisioning process, which wrapped up on Thursday, Anukriti Hittle, who is working with DOBOR, said in a statement: “This is the first time DOBOR has done such extensive community outreach,” involving an independent consultant. Further, the input will inform the state’s request for proposals, expected to be published in early 2018, which in turn, will “determine what Hawaii’s ‘jewel’ harbor will look like — for current and future generations.”

It’s a jewel that needs polishing. Public comments collected by DTL described the harbor site as rundown, and grappling with difficult issues like homelessness, illegal parking and a lack of harbor services.

It’s now up to the state to examine the community’s input and forge a viable Plan B for Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor.