08/25/2026
We are proud to announce a comprehensive effort to revitalize the way we permit and organize activities within outdoor play fields, one of the most popular public facilities in Hawai‘i.
DPR operates 221 ball diamonds and 129 play fields around O‘ahu. With the island's ideal weather conditions creating an environment for year-round usage, managing the demand for these public resources is necessary to ensure equity and greater access for our diverse community of park users.
In the past, DPR Recreation Directors would schedule usage of their fields through a variety of methods, creating an inconsistent patchwork of operations across O‘ahu. Now, DPR aims to institute a standard field permitting system utilizing Field User Meetings.
The overall intent of instituting this system is to:
• Create fair and transparent ways of assigning field usage
• Better manage this limited public resource
• Develop consistent and more easily understood practices
• Increase communication and collaboration between field users and DPR
• More easily address scheduling conflicts or inequities
“As more and more organizations offer a wider variety of activities, all vying for the same park fields, we hope this system helps to bring a sense cohesion to our growing sports communities,” said DPR Director Laura H. Thielen. “We’ve seen far too many cases of tempers flaring during what should be peaceful athletic events. With everyone coming to the table and interacting face-to-face with their fellow permittees and park staff, we hope they see the value in working together to share our limited park space. A big mahalo to our recreation directors for spearheading this island-wide effort, particularly the staff at Pearl City District Park who initially modeled this permitting system and provided guidance on how to bring the whole department on board.”
To help organizations understand these standardized field permitting processes, a dedicated website with details of this effort is available at: honolulu.gov/dpr/outdoor-field-permitting/
INFORMATIONAL ZOOM MEETINGS
In addition to the dedicated website, digital public meetings will be hosted by DPR staff to further discuss these field-permitting systems and answer questions about the processes. These three informational Zoom meetings are scheduled in early September 2026. All times and dates listed below are Hawai‘i Standard Time:
• Tuesday, September 1, 2026 at 6 p.m.
• Thursday, September 3, 2026 at 6 p.m.
• Wednesday, September 9, 2026 at 6 p.m.
All meetings will utilize the same Zoom link, available by using this link: bit.ly/FieldUserMeeting
FIELD USER MEETINGS
The Field User Meeting system is organized into two permitting blocks: Winter - Spring (December 1 - May 31) and Summer - Fall (June 1 - November 30).
To begin, interested parties are asked to submit their permit application during a designated period approximately two months before the beginning of the permitting block. Applications can be submitted via email, in-person, or mailed to the DPR Recreation Director responsible for permitting at that particular park or complex. Mailed applications must be received, not postmarked, within the application period.
Winter – Spring
*Application Period: September 14 - October 9
*Field User Meetings: October 19 - October 30
Permitting Block: December 1 - May 31
Summer - Fall
Application Period: March 17 – March 31
Field User Meetings: April 1 – April 15
Permitting Block: June 1 - November 30
*The application period and meeting schedule for the Winter – Spring block will change after the 2026 season, due to input from permitted users requesting a timetable with greater advanced notice. Mahalo for your understanding.
At the end of the application period Field User Meetings are held to bring applicants together, providing DPR staff the opportunity to communicate park rules, field maintenance standards, park-specific conditions, and to determine if there are any initial scheduling conflicts.
If conflicts arise, the applicants have a one-week Mediation Period following the Field User Meeting to resolve their conflict. If the conflict is not resolved, the Recreation Director will begin the Conflict Resolution process. Both of these processes are described in greater length on the effort’s website: honolulu.gov/dpr/outdoor-field-permitting/
Large tournaments can submit applications one year in advance. Large Tournaments are defined as those who have participants/teams travelling from off island, where securing a date a year in advance is required to adequately plan the large event. These tournaments may be restricted to one weekend per month to give balance to other field usage.
If any additional outdoor field availability exists after the Field User Meeting system of permitting is complete, available field space and times can be requested on a first come, first served basis.
AWARDING FIELD PERMITS
Once these processes are complete, the Recreation Director managing the field will inform the applying organization of the dates and times awarded for their use. Permits will be issued up to three months at a time, unless otherwise specific (such as for Large Tournaments described above). If you wish to renew a permit, place contact the Recreation Director.
PILOT PROGRAM
With the dozens of organizations, hundreds of park facilities, and thousands of park users impacted by this effort, DPR first launched this unified system on a sample size of park complexes in March 2026. It began with three Zoom meetings for permittees of 55 parks with nine DPR complexes across O‘ahu. Mahalo to those original permittees for their patience and understanding during the pilot program, and for helping us to better manage the beautiful park facilities we all cherish.
Public comment and conversations on this platform are not regularly monitored. To report an issue regarding your Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation parks, gardens, or trees please utilize the HNL 311 application. To express additional concerns or questions pertaining to this topic, please contact us at [email protected] or +1-808-768-3003.
