Aaron Ellis plays with his dog, Panda, a mix of border collie, Labrador retriever and rottweiler, at the Bark Park on the corner of Diamond Head Road and 18th Avenue.

Zolo, a pit bull mix, finds that the Bark Park is definitely for the dogs, as the canine-level water fountain proves. Andrew Shimabuku • The Honolulu Advertiser

"They get so excited," said Latisha, holding another of their dogs, Mana, in her arms. "The dogs look happier, too, and they're not as naughty."

The after-work crowd steadily streamed into the small dog park next to Moanalua District Park last Wednesday. By 5 p.m. there were more than a dozen dogs roaming around leash-free on the grass, chasing and sniffing one another. Their owners congregated near picnic benches and under trees, sipping coffee and talking story.

Great Danes played with Chihuahuas; German shepherds frolicked with Jack Russells.

"This is a playground for dogs," said Betty Kamida, director of the Moanalua Gardens Community Association, which lobbied to get the park. "There was such a great need for it. There's not a whole lot of things for dogs to do in Honolulu. There's just not enough open spaces."

The Moanalua dog park, which opened in February, has become the model for other city-owned dog parks. It is the first of at least four off-leash city dog parks anticipated to open in coming years.

Mililani may have the next city dog park, expected to open in late August in an unused 2-acre lot adjacent to Mililani Mauka District Park. Other communities, such as Manoa, Kane'ohe and 'Ewa, are clamoring for dog parks, too.

And it's no surprise. Nearly 40 percent of O'ahu households have at least one dog, according to the Hawaiian Humane Society.

"Off-leash parks are a wonderful opportunity for dogs and owners to spend time together," said Pamela Burns, president of the Hawaiian Humane Society. "I'm disappointed that we don't have more publically supported off-leash dog parks here."

Though the City Council appropriated about $100,000 for the Moanalua dog park, Balfour said it actually cost a lot less to build because the Parks Department provided the labor.

If the park had gone through the process as a capital improvement project, it probably would have cost twice as much, he said. "Cost is not a problem," he added. "Show me a suitable place and I'll build you a dog park. I've done it two times now, and I'm perfectly willing to do it two more times. ... We're committed to it. If anyone says otherwise, they don't know what they're talking about."

It took about three years for the city to open the Moanalua dog park because it had to draft rules governing an off-leash park, which required public hearings and discussions, Balfour said. Another challenge to establishing the parks is finding the right spot, on city land, if possible.

Hillarie Hamilton enjoys the afternoon at the Bark Park, along with her three dogs, Willie, Chillie and Dante. The privately owned Bark Park was founded six years ago on state property next to Diamond Head Mortuary.

The sprinklers at the Bark Park give Maile, a 3-year-old terrier mix, a chance to cool off from the heat. Andrew Shimabuku • The Honolulu Advertiser

The city will be responsible for maintaining the dog parks, including mowing grass and making repairs at a cost of about $400 a month. But the community has got to pitch in, Balfour said. "We don't run dog parks," he said. "The community does."

O'ahu has two privately run off-leash dog parks that are open to the public and heavily used. McInerny Dog Park at the Hawaiian Humane Society and the Bark Park on Diamond Head Road. "There was certainly a great need for a park," said Clark Hatch, who founded the Bark Park six years ago on state property next to Diamond Head Mortuary.

The success of that park, which lures an average of 150 users a day, has prompted dog owners to request similar parks in their communities.

And the Bark Park, which is privately owned and operated, didn't cost $100,000 to build.

Hatch got a permit from the state to use its 1.5-acre parcel. It cost about $20,000 — all donations — to fix it up, including installing a perimeter fence, double-lock gate, water fountain and sprinklers. Maintenance, which includes trimming trees and mowing grass, cost about $500 a month. The water bill totals about $110 a month.

The hardest part of establishing future parks may be finding a location with ample parking. The dog park in Moanalua is ideally located, Kamida said. Not near any residential areas, lots of parking, in a central area. People come from as far as Mililani and Kane'ohe to let their dogs roam without leashes.

"There's not a whole lot to a dog park," said Kamida, whose two dogs, Sweetie and Moses, were roving around the Moanalua dog park. "There's a lot a community can do to make the park nice. The more the community gets involved, the more incentive the city will have to help. But the people have to do their part."

And, for the most part, they have.

Community members donated three plastic bag dispensers at Moanalua for owners to use to pick up after their dogs. Another resident donated a bulletin board. And, as with the dog parks at the Hawaiian Humane Society and the Bark Park, community volunteers patrol the park during peak hours to ensure the safety of all users.

Dog parks are growing in popularity nationwide, said Nancy Peterson, issues specialist with the Humane Society of the United States in Washington, D.C. There are thousands of dog-friendly parks across the country — more than 50 in just California — with increasing numbers opening in highly urbanized areas where wide open spaces are in short supply.

"We definitely think they provide a wonderful service to people in the community who have dogs and even to those who don't," Peterson said. "Just like any other user of a public facility, dog owners are taxpayers, too, and it's nice for them to have a dedicated area where they can recreate with their dogs."

Kiyomi Kasamatsu used to take her shiba, Candy, to the Bark Park when she lived in Kaimuki. When she moved to Crosspointe in Halawa, she still commuted to the park — until she learned about the one in Moanalua. Now she takes Candy there at least three times a week.

Like many O'ahu residents, Kasamatsu doesn't have much of a back yard. And she feels bad that Candy is cooped up in her townhouse all day. Coming to the dog park is the only way her pooch can run around and meet other dogs.

"There should be more dog parks," said Kasamatsu, 37, holding a can of ice tea and watching Candy dart around the park. "This is so convenient for me."

Reach Catherine E. Toth at 535-8103 or ctoth@honoluluadvertiser.com.