There’s grumbling among users of Waialae Beach Park over a change in parking lot hours. Instead of being opened at 6 a.m., it will now remain locked until 7.

The change doesn’t affect us, since we walk to the park, but lots of others who come to the park from farther away are impacted.

This although Honolulu’s Department of Parks and Recreation website claims the parking lot is open at 5 a.m.

Park hours

That’s a fantasy!

For some time, the parking lot has been unlocked about 6 a.m., and it is common for there to be a line of cars on the street waiting for the 6 a.m. opening.

But recently park users have found themselves waiting in vain as the parking lot isn’t being opened until much later.

One early morning regular at the park phoned the city to complain, and shared his experience with me.

He was told that the parking lot will now scheduled remain closed until 7 a.m. due to staffing shortages.

If it is unlocked earlier, that’s just a lucky bonus, he was told.

And it appears this new policy applies to other city parks as well.

I went looking for any mention of this change in the city’s Docushare system, where you can find all manner of city council records, including communications to and from the various city departments. I found nothing recent about park hours, park closures, etc. Nothing in the minutes of the city council committee that is tasked with parks issues. It isn’t clear whether members of the City Council are aware of the change, or the contours and broader impact of the department’s staffing shortage.

I haven’t dug down deeper to figure out whether this is the result of unfilled positions or budget cutbacks, or a combination.

Maybe someone who follows city budget issues can chime in.