DOBOR AT A GLANCE
The waters of Hawaii provide some of the most exciting and beautiful ocean recreation opportunities in the world. Hawaii, as an ocean state, has an ancient heritage of using the sea for transportation, for sustenance and for recreation. Today, this cultural heritage endures and supports an $800 million ocean recreation industry. Hawaii's harbors and ramps are gateways not only to the Pacific Ocean but to the future as well. The Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation administers programs, manages facilities and issues permits to facilitate access to this resource and to make the nearshore waters safe for everyone.
~Our
Mission~
To enrich the lives of Hawaii’s residents and visitors by providing facilities for recreational boating and supporting opportunities for ocean activities. To preserve Hawaii’s natural and cultural resources, while ensuring public access to State waters and enhancing the ocean experience.
~DOBOR'S
Administrator~
The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) named Ed
Underwood DOBOR administrator in 2006. 
see
the press release detailing Ed Underwood's Appointment
~DOBOR'S
Jurisdiction~
"Waters of the State” means "any waters within the jurisdiction of the State, the marginal seas adjacent to the State, and the high seas when navigated as part of a journey to or from the shores of the State” - Section 200-23, HRS. This definition includes all coastal waters out to three nautical miles, and all interisland traffic. DOBOR shares responsibility for managing the waters of the State with numerous other State and Federal agencies. Jurisdiction of any waterway is a complex issue and must often be determined on a case-by-case basis.
~DOBOR'S
Operational
Responsibilities~
- Facility development, management, operation and repair.
- Regulating boating facilities & recreational use of waters
of the State.
~DOBOR'S
Management
Responsibilities~
- 20 Small Boat Harbors
- 16 Independent Boat Ramps
- 8 Offshore Moorings
- 5 Landings
- 4 Public Shorelines
- 4 Wharves
- 2 Deep Draft Harbors
~DOBOR'S
Regulatory
Responsibilities~
- Permit issuance
- Mooring
- Commercial use
- Film permits
- Ocean waters events
- Yacht and canoe races
- Surfing and windsurfing contests
- Fishing tournaments
- Long-distance swimming contests
- Other organized events
- Enforcement
- Vessel registration
- Legislation
- Rule-making
- User conflict resolution
- Anchoring/mooring
- Placement/sinking of vessels or objects
- Pollution prevention
- Restricted area designation & use
- Protected species/ecosystem impact coordination
- Boating accident investigation and reporting
- Aids to navigation for boating facilities
- Boating safety education
~DOBOR'S
Administrative Responsibilities~
- General administration
- Program policy development
- Communications
- Agency interface
- Correspondence
- Public meetings/briefings
- Media interface
- Personnel functions
- Ocean Recreation Management Plan
- Coastal Areas Program
- Protection of public shoreline
- Removal of non-natural hazards
- Administrative rulemaking implementing boating laws and
other applicable statutes, including user fee rates.
- Coordination of enforcement requirements with DLNR's
Division of Conservation &Resources Enforcement.
~DOBOR'S
Financial
Functions~
- Accounting
- Auditing
- Billing
- Budgeting
~DOBOR'S
Engineering
Branch~
- (CIP) budget preparation
- Consultant and construction contract oversight
- Plans and specifications review
- Project coordination
- Project planning & prioritization
DOBOR is wholly self-supported by user fees, vessel registration fees, marine fuel taxes and boating property rental income deposited to a boating special fund. No funding for the division’s programs or functions is derived from the General Fund other than CIP.
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