Six of the seven city parks in 'Ewa and 'Ewa Beach will soon have night closure hours.

But a decision on what to do about the popular yet problematic Hau Bush, also known as One'ula Beach Park, has not yet been reached, city Deputy Parks Director Dana Takahara-Dias said.

Asing Community, 'Ewa Mahiko, Geiger Community and 'Ewa Beach Community parks will all close from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Pu'uloa Neighborhood Park and 'Ewa Beach Park will close from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Signs informing park-goers about the new hours are expected to go up at each of the six parks by the end of January, Takahara-Dias said. Once the signs are up, the hours can be enforced by police, she said.

The issue of park closures became a divisive one for the 96706 community earlier this year when members of the 'Ewa Neighborhood Board sought to shut down all seven parks from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. They cited problems with drinking, loud partying and other misuses at the parks after dark.

But some area residents questioned the need to close the parks that long and said legitimate park uses from fishing to pickup basketball would be severely curtailed if the parks were shut down 12 hours a day.

'Ewa Beach resident Dee Oshiro said she remains convinced that Hau Bush should stay open 24 hours a day and believes the neighborhood would be worse off if divers and fishermen had to look for parking outside the park and walk in.

"It's also a safety and crime issue," she said, noting that the park is not lit at night.

Oshiro has a petition with more than 1,500 signatures from people who want the park open 24 hours.

In the fall, the board revised its request to the parks department. Earlier this month, the city Parks Commission, which makes recommendations to the parks director, further tinkered with the hours.

Rich Hargrave, 'Ewa Neighborhood Board chairman, said he was pleased with what was finally decided on the six parks. "I think we actually took a giant step," he said. "We went from a very heated discussion to getting (parks officials) to approve our resolution."

District Police Maj. Michael Moses applauded the new hours. "Having the park closure signs does make it easier for the officers," he said. Officers will be able to warn, cite or arrest violators as an occasion may warrant, he said.

Questions remain, however, on what to do at Hau Bush, which is known as much for late-night reveling as it is for its surf break and scenic shoreline.

Takahara-Dias said there is no timeline for a decision and that officials are still weighing the different considerations, including those who want to fish and dive at the beach during early morning hours.

The neighborhood board and Parks Commission have agreed on a recommendation of a 10-to-5 closure.

Most seem to agree, including 'Ewa Beach resident and frequent Hau Bush visitor Ed Rhinelander, who opposed the 7-to-7 closure.

"Ten to 5 is fine with us, because the fishermen are going to go in no matter what and they're going to fish, especially when there's a full moon and the ulua are running," Rhinelander said. "I think what they're trying to do is to stop the park from being used by those who are partying, doing dope and getting rowdy."

Moses said those who fish and dive are allowed access to any beach at any hour of the day, even when the parks themselves are closed.

'Ewa Beach resident Coby Lynn said 10 to 5 is a fair compromise. "That seems appropriate," he said, noting that neighbors of parks are often subjected to burglaries, car thefts and other bad or criminal behavior.

Last week, someone drove through a private wall on Papipi Road near the entrance to Hau Bush, he said. The driver then fled the scene. "The neighbors are very frustrated."

Reach Gordon Y.K. Pang at gpang@honoluluadvertiser.com.

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