Question: We have noticed a small boat anchored off Magic Island that has not moved for weeks (possibly longer). There seems to be no activity onboard and the boat has not moved even during the recent windy and rough ocean weather. Could someone be in trouble? There are no visible lights, which may pose a danger to any other craft plying the waters at night. Is it legal to moor off Magic Island?
Answer: Vessels are not allowed to moor outside a designated area without a permit from the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.
In this case, the boat was not in a designated offshore mooring area and did not have a permit.
Although your concern was relayed to DLNR on Feb. 27, no staff from its Oahu District Boating Office was immediately able to respond.
Someone on the Boating staff is required to verify and document the mooring — it can’t rely on an outside complaint, said DLNR spokeswoman Deborah Ward.
She explained that the law (Chapter 13-235-9 of DLNR’s Hawaii Administrative Rules) allows a fishing or recreational vessel to moor offshore for up to 72 hours to allow visiting vessels time to apply for a temporary permit in one of the state’s harbors.
As soon as they were able to, Boating staff observed the boat in question, then waited for the required 72 hours to elapse before they posted a notice on the boat.
“Notice needs to be given to the owner and we send the notice certified and post it on the vessel itself,” Ward said. The owner then had another 72 hours, or until March 15, to respond or remove the vessel.
“By end of day March 15, the vessel had left the offshore area,” Ward said.
If it hadn’t, DLNR’s Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation could have taken custody of the boat and put it up for auction if its appraised value was more than $5,000, she said.
At that point, the owner still could pay any overdue fees or impoundment costs to recover the boat up to the date of the auction. Auction proceeds would have gone to pay fees owed the boating division, Ward said.
If the owner wants to get a slip or moor in a state facility in the future, he would have to pay for any outstanding fees, she said.
(For more information, see hawaii.gov/dlnr/ dbor/rules/13-235.pdf.)
Question: I am 64 years old and trying to apply for low-income senior housing. Do you have a list or know where I can get information?
Answer: The city Department of Community Services’ Elderly Affairs Division is a good resource.
Check its website, www.elderlyaffairs.com, or call 768-7700 weekdays, between 7:45 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Among its services, it offers an Oahu Housing Guide, which lists options for housing on Oahu for the elderly, including low- to moderate-income apartments.
The guide is a project of the Elderly Affairs Division and the Housing Assistance Program of Catholic Charities Hawaii.
The agency offers information about aging, disabilities and caregiving; gives referrals to community service providers; and provides assistance in screening and applying for government benefits.
MAHALO
To Honolulu Police officer J. Bardon. On Feb. 25, my tire blew out on the H-3 freeway. I called tow companies, but they were all busy. Officer Bardon arrived, called a tow company, then waited with me until they arrived. He was very nice and went beyond the call of duty. — Laura Love
MAHALO
To the unknown person who turned in my lost pack to the Imaging Department at the Queen’s Medical Center on March 1. It was a huge relief to me, as it contained my emergency medication as well as credit cards. I hope someone is as wonderful to you. — Kaneohe
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Write to “Kokua Line” at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.
