Nighttime closures of Kapi'olani Park and Kuhio Beach start today as part of a city campaign to spruce up Waikiki and to discourage overnight camping.

But the homeless who remained there last week said they didn't plan to leave. They'll just move.

"It's harassment," said Misty Martin, who said she has slept in the park for two years. "The homeless are a target. It's just not fair. We're among the working homeless. We just don't have enough to make the rent and all. Now we'll just have to adapt."

Despite more than a month's notice of the impending closure, tents and about two dozen campers were still in the park on Friday. Barbecues, tents, belongings covered in tarps, chairs and bicycles were clustered in little camp areas.

The number of homeless in the park last week was significantly lower than over the summer, when camping peaked at an estimated 150 people per night. Having that many homeless at the doorstep to the state's No. 1 tourist destination prompted complaints from residents and resulted in negative national publicity.

The issue simmered for months, until Mayor Mufi Hannemann launched "Ma-lama 'o Waikiki" on March 12 to address the situation. Now, park users and merchants say the effort has made a difference.

"The cleanup has gone really well," said Rick Egged, president of the Waikiki Improvement Association. "It's made a big difference in the appearance and the sanitation of the park. I am happy with what they're doing. I'm already hearing good comments, from residents and those who use the park on a regular basis, that things are much improved."

Kapi'olani Park is used daily by large numbers of walkers, runners, soccer players, youth sports participants, tennis players, archers and others.

"It will be nice to have the restrooms and other facilities spruced up," said Keith Johnson, a tennis player who voluntarily helps maintain the courts. "A lot of visitors use these courts. The homeless camps do detract from the courts and the community.

"I've been around here for many years, and it's tough to care for the park when it's so heavily used," he said.

CLEANING UP

Since Hannemann's announcement, city workers have been painting and deep-cleaning restrooms and pavilions, and doing landscaping work. Pavilions and restrooms along Kuhio Beach have been shut from 6 to 9 a.m. for daily cleaning. Restrooms, pavilions and other facilities of Kapi'olani Park have also been closed for repairs and cleaning.

The work at Waikiki beach parks and at Kapi'olani Park is similar to what city officials began more than two years ago at Thomas Square, Ala Moana Beach Park and beaches along the Leeward Coast, refurbishing those areas while moving out homeless people and reclaiming the areas for use by the general public.

The main part of Kapi-'olani Park will now be closed daily from midnight to 5 a.m. The park areas along the ocean side of Kalakaua Avenue from the police station to Kaimana Beach are now closed from 2 to 5 a.m.

The posted closing times allow police to force violators to leave or face citation.

Ample notice has been given to the campers, said Lester Chang, director of the city Department of Parks and Recreation.

"We've gone there and given them written notification, telling them about when the park will be closed and about vacancies in shelters, so when the time comes and the rules are implemented, those that are affected will have someplace to go," he said.

B.J. Kam, who has been staying in the park, said she is not sure where she will go or what will happen to her. She just knows that she's glad she has had the opportunity to enjoy the park.

"I just hope we can find something," Kam said. "You look at us and it's not what you think it is. Everyone knows each other. We protect people coming to the park. Sometimes we help out when the rubbish is overflowing and get plastic bags and let the staff know."

Park user Kaleo Bush, of Papakolea, said he has mixed feelings about the new hours.

If the intention is to move the homeless out, he said, it's not likely to last. "They'll come back."