WAIKIKI — State officials are considering fencing off a parking area and possibly charging a fee at the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor, an area popular with surfers, paddlers and beachgoers.

It's one of the few public parking spots near the beach in Waikiki where people can park for free.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation will hold a public meeting tomorrow to discuss two possible parking plans for the area. (See box.)

The two plans call for issuing a revocable permit to a private company to manage all vehicles parking at the Ala Wai harbor.

One plan suggests allowing ocean recreation users to get three hours of free parking in the heliport area, then charging them a fee thereafter.

The two plans are a result of a meeting in January where 12 options were proposed for public review and comment.

"Our goal is to come to a consensus on a parking plan for Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor as soon as possible," said Peter Young, DLNR chairman, in a news release. "We fully expect the final plan to be a blending of everybody's input. It should be practical and address all of our needs and issues."

But not everyone who uses the parking area is content with the two proposals.

"People have the right to go to the beach and swim if they want. They shouldn't have to pay for that," said Les Among, who serves on the Waikiki Neighborhood Board. "It's not fair for the people who are already paying taxes."

Stephen Jones, 32, who parks at the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor four times a week, usually to surf at Kaiser's, didn't seem surprised by the proposals, particularly to charge recreational users a fee after three free hours of parking.

"It was inevitable, just like gas prices going up," Jones, a merchant mariner from Nu'uanu, said yesterday. "I guess if it's not such an extravagant charge, if it's a nominal fee, if it was reasonable, then I won't mind."

On any given day, the parking lot at the heliport is packed with cars and trucks.

It's a popular spot for surfers who frequent the nearby breaks, paddlers who launch from the beach, and people out for a walk along the beach or through Waikiki.

"It's one of the last places where you can enjoy the place" and not pay for parking, said Joseph "Nappy" Napoleon, 65, founder and head coach of 'Anuenue Canoe Club, which has been based at the heliport for 22 years. "I'd rather (the state) keep this for recreational users ... and not pick on us paddlers and surfers."

Suzie Mai, a 29-year-old speech pathologist from 'Aiea, watched the surf at Kaiser's yesterday.

She said she doesn't mind paying a reasonable fee, but only if the state uses that money to improve the area.

"What's the benefit? What's the state going to do with the money?" Mai asked. "I'd think twice about going to the beach here."