Following the mayor's decision to keep Ala Moana Beach Park closed at night on a permanent basis, many regulars at the park yesterday said they support the decision and that there have been noticeable improvements since the city began closing the park in late March.

Moses Schultz, co-owner of the Surf and Snack Concession, called the action by Mayor Mufi Hannemann "the best decision he ever made."

"Before there was a lot of drugs, prostitution and crime," Schultz said. "By keeping it closed (at night), it's made a big difference."

Hannemann announced on Friday that the park would continue to close at night. He has been criticized by some advocates for the homeless for closing the park without first addressing the issue of where the estimated 200 homeless people who had been staying in the park would go. The state opened a temporary shelter in a Kaka'ako warehouse on May 1.

The city began closing Ala Moana park on March 27 to make renovations and repairs. Officials at the time said the nightly closures might become permanent depending on community reaction.

Schultz said that when the park remained open at night, people would sleep under the covered area of the concession stand and he would arrive in the morning to trash and "filth."

"It's been better for business. It's been better for park users," he said.

But Brad Shields, a 50-year-old Makiki resident and longtime park user, said he disagrees with the nighttime closures.

"I've been coming here for years, mainly to fish, and I've never had a problem with the homeless," Shields said as he fished off a wall inside the park. "These people need a place to stay. The park is close to social services. There are showers and bathrooms. I don't see why they can't stay here."

Shields said he has fished at night in the park for years and never had a problem with homeless people or crime.

Sun Kim, a 51-year-old Makiki resident, goes to Ala Moana every Sunday and said that since the city began closing the park at night she has noticed it is cleaner and feels safer.

"The homeless — it's a problem," she said. "But the park is for everyone. It's for everyone to use. I think it's for the better."

Kim said the closures not only keep the homeless out, but also keep out drugs and other illegal activity.

Rolando Lamug, 38, of 'Aiea, was picnicking with his family near Magic Island yesterday and said he too supports the mayor's decision to close the park. Lamug said by closing the park at night, it makes the surrounding community safer by driving out the illegal activity.

"People feel more comfortable coming here knowing the city is doing something to clean it up," he said. But while he said there are benefits, he also acknowledged that it forces homeless to find some place else to go.

"I don't think the problem was the homeless — they don't bother. It's the drugs and crime that needed to go," he said.

Ala Moana park and the park road will be closed to the public from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. nightly. Also, the Magic Island parking lot will be closed at 10 p.m. instead of 8 p.m.

There will be one exception to the closures: July 3, when many people stake out spots for the Fourth of July fireworks show.

Reach Loren Moreno at lmoreno@honoluluadvertiser.com.