City Council members met today to discuss what they say is a worsening homeless problem in Kapiolani Park.

Residents and park users told council members, who are trustees of the park, that "homeless encampments" have taken over Kapiolani.

Alethea Rebman, president of the Kapiolani Park Preservation Society, said she has even heard several reports of homeless people charging tourists to use the bathrooms near the concession stand.

"We do support an effort to get the homeless out of the park because these are encampments in the park," Rebman said. "It is not available to a group to commandeer."

City Council members are considering a 24-hour ban on "camping" at Kapiolani Park in hopes of dealing with the homeless problem. This afternoon, City Council members — as Kapiolani Park trustees — voted to defer a decision until next month on Bill 2, which has passed its first City Council reading.

Councilman Charles Djou, who is chairman of the Kapiolani Park trustees and introduced Bill 2, said Kapiolani Park has turned into a "squatters village."

"Clearly, we have a huge pressing issue with the homeless in Kapiolani Park," Djou said. "This is the private, exclusive domain of a select few."

A camping ban already exists for the park from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m ., but park users say homeless have been skirting the law by sleeping during the day and sitting up in the park at night.

Several people also testified against the expanded camping ban.

Bob Erb, pastor of a Waikiki outreach ministry that feeds the homeless at Kapiolani daily, said the proposal was "outrageous."

"I believe if we can take care of the cats and dogs as part of the infrastructure, we ought to be taking care of the poor," Erb said. "They're not just going to vanish. Wake up! Somebody has to speak up for these homeless people."

The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii also opposed the bill, saying it has serious constitutional problems.

Kapiolani Park is held in a trust for the public. The City Council hasn't held a trustees meeting since Sept. 6, 2007, and the major reason for the gathering today was to address the homeless situation.