KANE'OHE — Boaters praised a state effort to control potential problems at Kane'ohe Bay over the Memorial Day holiday as thousands gathered at its popular sandbar for a three-day weekend of fun and sun.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources increased its presence on the bay, staffing the harbor and manning patrol crafts with four-man crews of enforcement officers.

Personnel were at He'eia-Kea Small Boat Harbor educating the public and inspecting boats before they launched to make sure they were registered and properly equipped with safety gear. On the water, boats patrolled the sandbar looking for troublemakers, quelling problems and checking for safety gear.

"It's the quietest I've ever seen it on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend," said Anita Balch, a sailboat owner who spent two days in the bay over the weekend. "I do think their presence deterred some problems. There were a couple of problems but DLNR handled it really quietly, really smoothly without making a big deal out of it."

Thousands of people in hundreds of boats anchored at the sandbar each day of the long weekend, creating the potential for serious trouble as in the past where drunkenness has sometimes led to fights and injuries. Even on shore, crowded conditions at the boat harbor have had people stewing.

DLNR Director Laura H. Thielen said the pilot project was highly successful and added, "We will be continuing this effort on a periodic basis at certain key times and areas which draw large groups of recreational boaters."

Ed Underwood, administrator for the boating division, said about two dozen DLNR staff were on duty.

About four or five boats were turned away because they lacked the proper gear or current registration, Underwood said. But most boaters came prepared because of prior warning and media reports of the increased enforcement presence, he said.

"We didn't have any major alcohol incidents," Underwood said, adding that drinking was usually at the root of problems in the bay on holiday weekends.

Deborah Ward, spokeswoman for the DLNR, said citations were issued but the division had not compiled a list of them as of yesterday.

Brian Lopez, who spent the weekend on his boat at the sandbar, said having the DLNR and the Coast Guard present made a big difference and the weekend more enjoyable.

Lopez blames underage drinking as the major cause for problems at the sandbar in the past and as a longtime visitor there, he said he's familiar with the faces causing the problems.

"A lot of the young people that you usually see out there, they weren't out (this weekend)," he said.

Lopez estimated that about 2,000 people were at the sandbar on Monday and about 100 to 150 boats.

Lopez said he and other regular users keep watch for troublemakers and are glad to have more DLNR presence.

"Everybody is aware of the consequences if something does happen," he said. "They don't want to shut the place down."