Three new floating docks were dedicated today at the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor.

The opening of the docks brings 116 new slips into service.

An additional $2.5 million in rehabilitation work is planned for the harbor, including sewer and water system improvements, and work on the 700 Row and transient docks.

“Access to our oceans is important to our economy, but I think it’s especially important to our lifestyle,” said Gov. Linda Lingle, at the dedication ceremony this morning, which included a Hawaiian blessing of the new docks.

Since 2002, the state has been working to revamp Ala Wai Boat Harbor, partly in an effort to maximize revenues from slip rents.

The slips in docks B, C and D, which were dedicated yesterday, are expected to bring in about $28,000 a month.

Work to rebuild the B, C and D docks stared in November 2008. The old docks had been in service since 1972.