Honolulu's parks could be going to the dogs: 8 things to know about the big dog park debate

Yahoo

30-04-2025

HONOLULU (KHON2) — If you're a dog lover living on Oʻahu, you might be familiar with the challenge of finding a park where your furry friend is legally allowed.
The City and County of Honolulu's Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) wants to change that, and they want your help to decide how.
There are more than 300 parks on Oʻahu, but most don't welcome dogs. In fact, fewer than 40 parks currently allow leashed dogs and only 10 have designated off-leash areas.
This new initiative is meant to expand dog access that will begin with on-leash privileges, while balancing the needs of all park users.
'We firmly believe the current rules regarding pets in City parks are too restrictive and should be changed, but we want to be respectful of the various needs of our community members,' said Nate Serota, DPR spokesman and lead for this effort.'
He went on to explain further.
'With this in mind, we are empowering you to let us know where these dog-friendly privileges should be extended, decriminalizing an activity that should be encouraged in these open, public spaces,' he added. 'We strongly encourage you to take part in this process, with DPR requesting formal input from each of the Neighborhood Boards before September 2025.'
Here's what you should know as the discussion unfolds.
Of the 308 City Park locations around the island, only 36 let dogs visit while on a leash; and only 10 of those have off-leash zones. This means a lot of dog owners, especially in rural areas like the Leeward and Windward coasts, don't have a legal place to enjoy a walk or playtime with their pets.
You can click to view a digital map showing where dogs are currently allowed.
The City is not making changes without the community. Instead, DPR has asked all 33 Neighborhood Boards across Oʻahu to gather input from their residents. The goal is to hear which parks people believe should be open to leashed dogs and where they shouldn't.You can click for an interactive map of neighborhoods and dog-allowed parks. Boards are expected to collect feedback and submit formal recommendations by September 2025.
The push to expand dog-friendly spaces is about giving dogs more room to roam and recognizing that many people consider dogs part of their ʻohana. The DPR wants to decriminalize the activity of walking your dog in a public park since many feel it should be normalized rather than prohibited.
At the same time, the City has made it clear that dog kahu (guardians) must be responsible. That means leashing your dog, picking up after them and respecting shared space.
One big concern is safety, especially when it comes to aggressive dogs. That's why a new state law, Act 224, goes into effect on July 1, 2025. It clearly defines what counts as a 'dangerous dog' and holds pet owners accountable.
If a dangerous dog seriously harms someone, the owner can now face felony charges. The law also allows for dogs to be impounded under certain conditions. The hope is to give peace of mind to those who worry about safety in parks.
Let's face it. No one likes stepping in dog poop. To tackle this issue, DPR is working on installing bag dispensers and putting up signs that remind pet owners to clean up. These dispensers are already in place in parts of Waikīkī, and they've made a visible difference.
The expansion effort would likely bring these features to other parks, too in order to help keep public spaces clean and enjoyable for everyone.
Some parks, like Ala Moana Regional Park and the Honolulu Botanical Gardens, are not part of this effort right now. These spots already have strict dog rules because of how many people visit and their focus on preserving natural beauty.
But DPR said they're open to future conversations about those areas.
In the meantime, the goal is to start with parks that make sense, especially underused ones that could benefit from more activity and community presence.
Expanding access for dogs is about making pets happy and giving families a safe, welcoming space to spend time outdoors. It's about relieving Honolulu Police from dealing with minor dog complaints; and it's about bringing people together in shared, respectful public spaces.
'With the growing variety of ways our parks are used, and the increasing need for recreational space across the island, we want to do our best to balance these diverse interests as we extend on-leash dog privileges,' said DPR Director Laura H. Thielen. 'Even providing a small area within a larger park for leashed dogs can make a significant difference to the growing population of dog guardians.'
She added that DPR hopes 'these discussions, and extending dog privileges, leads to a variety of social benefits, such as relieving our police department from responding to dog complaints, activating under-utilized park spaces, and a broader cohesion and respect amongst the community.'
Talk to your Neighborhood Board. Share your ideas and concerns. Visit the online maps to see what's already allowed and what could change. The City is listening, and they want to hear from you.
Get news on the go with KHON 2GO, KHON's morning podcast, every morning at 8
You can click here and here for the maps.
This is your park system. Your community. Your chance to help shape a more dog-friendly Oʻahu.
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