HONOLULU (KHON2) -- A year after the launch of a park ranger program aimed at reducing illegal activities in city parks, officials provided an update to the city council today.
The primary concern identified by rangers is unpermitted commercial activities.
To date, no citations have been issued as the program is still in an educational phase.
“Many of those operating without permits may simply be unaware of the rules, and we want to help change that,” said a park ranger.
Laura Thielen, director of the Department of Parks and Recreation, noted that rangers are not trained in self-defense or de-escalation techniques and lack radio support and vehicles, relying instead on city vehicles.
The program emphasizes education and compliance assistance.
The city council indicated that they are open to discussions about reactivating Honolulu Police Department patrols in parks if data supports the need for increased enforcement.