The Department of Land and Natural Resources' mission is to manage, restore and protect the natural and cultural resources that are the very essence of Hawai'i. These range from the Alaka'i Swamp and native forest trail, where you can wander through the mist-shrouded mountains of Kaua'i, to Ala Kahakai, one of 19 National Historic Trails that link three parks and a wealth of historic sites along Hawai'i's pristine shoreline.

Hawai'i's state parks and recreational areas are locations where residents can spend time with family and friends, practice cultural traditions, retreat from the hectic pace of daily life and find sustenance for their families. They are also popular destinations for more than 6 million visitors annually.

Unfortunately, over the past four decades, many of these places have suffered from degraded infrastructure, dilapidated facilities, spotty maintenance, minimal restoration and, in some cases, unsafe environments.

To ensure that our most precious natural and cultural resources are preserved for use by residents today and tomorrow, the state is fundamentally restructuring how we maintain, restore and manage these important places.

Our unprecedented Recreational Renaissance initiative aims to provide for a rebirth of recreational opportunities in our Islands and the continued stewardship of our 54 state parks, 20 small-boat harbors, 25 boat ramps and landings, 275 miles of hiking trails and the Forest Reserve System.

The Recreational Renaissance initiative accelerates the state's multi-year effort to repair, replace or improve facilities at state parks, trails and small-boat harbors statewide. This new and unique plan includes 238 projects around the state, and leverages an investment of $40 million over 12 years to generate new, nontaxpayer dollars that will support an additional $200 million in capital improvements in the next five years to upgrade comfort stations, parking, small-boat harbors and boat ramps, trails, cabins, piers, pavilions, interpretive programs and security.

DLNR has come up with a way to raise new, nontaxpayer dollars to make the payments on the bond debt. In this challenging economic environment, it's important to note that we are not arguing over our piece of the existing fiscal pie. Instead, we have taken the ingenuity, resources and sweat equity within the department to make a new, small pie that will cover the cost of the bonds and dramatically improve our management of these areas — an investment that will benefit all the people of Hawai'i.

Our $240 million in infrastructure improvements will include restoring spaces our state has acquired to protect cultural and natural resources. We will also install security features to protect public safety and enable our enforcement officers to increase their concentration on resource protection in our forests and oceans. DLNR also will adopt national model standards for scheduled repair and maintenance of facilities and sites through the support of limited fees and concessions.

Most of these projects have already been designed or are in the master plan phase. More than $30 million in projects are ready to begin construction this year; more than $20 million are ready to begin construction in 2010. Each island will receive integrated ocean and land-based recreational infrastructure improvements, including $63,295,000 for 46 projects on Kaua'i; $40,940,000 for 39 projects in Maui County; $58,285,000 for 60 projects on Hawai'i; and $72,580,000 for 73 projects on O'ahu.

In addition, we are developing partnerships with educational organizations to provide interpretive opportunities to enrich visitors' experiences and encourage them to embrace our shared kuleana, or responsibility, for these public spaces and resources.

We are rebuilding the way we do business within DLNR to maximize efficiency, ensure professional management of facilities and increase transparency. We serve you, the residents of Hawai'i, and share the public trust responsibility to care for and preserve our natural and cultural resources. If we continue business as usual, our piers will continue to deteriorate, our parks will require closing, and we will lose the special open spaces that make our state unique. Let the Recreational Renaissance begin!

We look forward to working in partnership with the Legislature and the community to provide hope in these troubled times through the proactive management of our recreational spaces.

As Gov. Lingle said, "through the Recreational Renaissance, we — along with the Legislature and private-sector partners — are renewing our commitment to preserving what is special about Hawai'i."

We all share a kuleana for this state and need to work together to preserve the spirit and physical beauty of our Islands, so that we can continue to enjoy and learn from our rare and special environment.


Laura H. Thielen, chairwoman of the state's Department of Land and Natural Resources, DLNR deputy director Russell Tsuji and DLNR administrators Paul Conry, Eric Hirano, Dan S. Quinn and Ed Underwood contributed to this commentary for The Advertiser.