Only two citations have been issued for trespassing at Honolulu Airport since nightly closures of overseas lobbies and baggage claim areas began nearly a month ago.

State transportation authorities said the closures were implemented to prevent homeless people from camping at the airport, and the problem has been reduced.

The policy was adopted March 13, closing certain areas between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. each day.

The citations for trespassing — petty misdemeanors punishable by a maximum fine of $1,000 and 30 days in jail — came on the first night, said Tim Sakahara, state Department of Transportation spokesman.

"We have gone from 50 to 60 nontraveling loiterers on the first night to almost nil this week," he added.

Traveling passengers with airline tickets can use a secure holding room if they have to spend the night. The holding area is in an office behind the airline ticket counter near a TSA security checkpoint where passengers with boarding passes and itineraries are checked before they are allowed to go to their departure gate.

The number of travelers using the overnight holding area has ranged from one to three dozen, depending on the schedule of the airlines, said Sakahara. There are sofas and chairs in the staging area to accommodate the travelers.

The policy was prompted by complaints from workers and visitors, to the Transportation Department, about loiterers.

Sakahara said the policy was adopted "for the safety and security of the traveling public as well as to protect the airport employees who have to work there at night."