HAWAI'I KAI — A passel of pooches will take to the street today during Hui 'Ilio Hawai'i's second annual dog walk created to bring awareness to the need for a dog park in the community.

The nonprofit organization needs to raise $70,000 to pay for the irrigation and fencing for the park that will be on the makai end of the park-and-ride facility on Keahole Street. The group, which has been pushing for a dog park for more than a year, hopes the walk will raise awareness for the need of places where dogs can run off-leash legally, said Elaine Dobashi, president of Hui 'Ilio.

So far more than 200 people have registered for the walk — double the number from last year. The group is anticipating an additional 100 people to sign up today. "People had such a great time last year that they encouraged us to do it again," Dobashi said. "Dogs have an inherent need for exercise and socialization."

The closest dog park is at Diamond Head, and the city owns two others in Mililani and in Moanlaua.

"I believe it's important for people to have a safe and legal place to take their dog to socialize and exercise, which is part of responsible dog ownership," said Carol Suyderhoud, a Hawai'i Kai resident who owns three dogs. "Without a dog park we're left with a walk or an unused open field."

The park will be owned and maintained by the city, Dobashi said. But the group is charged with finding the funds to build it.

Dobashi said she's hoping to find some corporate sponsors to help fund the bare-bones park, which includes fencing, irrigation, but no drinkable water. The funds raised by the dog walk pay for the cost of the walk and keep the organization going, she said.

There are an estimated 8,000 dogs in East Honolulu. Many of the dogs' owners have no place to legally let their dogs off their leash. Often the dog owners converge on city parks at dusk after children have gone home, but do so with the knowledge that dogs are not allowed in city parks.

Reach Suzanne Roig at sroig@honoluluadvertiser.com.