Off The News: Closing Kuhio Beach Park earlier

Honolulu’s Department of Parks and Recreation plans to close Kuhio Beach Park for an extra two hours, midnight-5 a.m. rather than 2-5 a.m. This follows a March 17 restriction on the hours at adjacent Royal Hawaiian Beach, which closes 2-5 a.m..

Kuhio Beach Park, on the Diamond Head side of Royal Hawaiian Beach, encompasses a wide swath of beachfront that’s easily reached from Kalakaua Avenue. Its 2 a.m. closure hasn’t been enough to deter overnight sleepers, drug users and other unwanted activities that have left the beach feeling less-than- sanitary and unsafe; this coordinates closing times with Kapiolani Park, mauka, and should improve the situation.