Kailua Beach Park will be closed nightly from midnight to 4 a.m. as part of a new three-month pilot program from the City and County of Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation.
The night closures begin Friday, Sept. 5, and are set to run until December. In an announcement Tuesday, the city noted that the trial period is "intended to explore the impact of nightly closures for this popular beach park."
"During that time, DPR will work with the community, Kailua Neighborhood Board and other city agencies to determine the effectiveness of these nightly closures and whether they should be implemented permanently," the announcement reads.
Until now, the park has been open around-the-clock. Signage noting the closure hours is being installed at the park.
Residents voiced concerns about a homeless encampment near the boat launch in Kailua Beach Park "with a man who threatens park-goers with a bull whip," at a Kailua Neighborhood Board meeting in December 2023, the minutes note. During that same meeting, the board voted 13-0 with five abstentions to request police enforcement of the park's no camping policy.
When asked about other issues that may have prompted the city to institute closure hours at the park, Nathan Serota, a spokesperson for DPR, told Aloha State Daily in an email, "The concerns of the illegal camping were paramount, but vandalism at this park is a concern, as well."
"We always aim for community support when establishing or modifying park closure hours," Serota says. "This issue has garnered robust discussion amongst the community, as displayed in the Neighborhood Board minutes, and having their support was a cathartic element. After further deliberation we came to a more agreeable closure time of 12 midnight to 4 a.m., which aims to balance evening park activities with more effectively enforcing park rules overnight. Typical park closure hours are from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m."
According to DPR, most city parks have nightly closures, which vary depending on a number of factors: community in put, public use and specific park conditions.
The city notes that similar to any city park location, visitors can travel through a closed park at any time, particularly to access the ocean or other natural or culturally significant areas, but it's illegal to remain in a park while it's closed unless otherwise permitted by DPR.
Serota says the department will work with the Honolulu Police Department regarding the enforcement of the new closure hours once they go into effect Friday.
You can find all park closure hours here.
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Stephanie Salmons can be reached at stephanie@alohastatedaily.com.
