MAKIKI — Makiki resident Sumiyo Corral takes her 20-month-old daughter, Maya, to the parks in her neighborhood several times a week.

But she hesitates to let her daughter play on the equipment at Makiki District Park, which is missing a slide and is almost covered in graffiti.

"It's just ugly and unsanitary," said the 37-year-old cosmetology student and mother of two. "No one takes care."

Graffiti has long been a major concern for neighborhoods statewide. But recent vandalism in public parks, on buildings and along walls has spurred some communities to fight back.

Last month a group of students from Saint Louis School and Chaminade University cleaned graffiti under a Palolo Avenue bridge. Hui O Makiki, a community action group, was formed last year to address neighborhood concerns, including vandalism to Makiki District Park.

And this Saturday a group of concerned citizens will rally to paint out graffiti in the McCully and Mo'ili'ili areas. (See box.)

"Graffiti usually comes with other problems like gangs and crime," said Joel Elies, a pastor at Hope 968 and Mo'ili'ili resident, who is organizing Saturday's paint-out. "And I think to have it continue basically is a sign that we, as a community, don't care to really fix the problem. I think it becomes a reflection of our apathy."

Spencer Yee, recreation director at Makiki District Park, said he spends a few hours a week dealing with graffiti on the three city buildings at the park. If he's not painting over the tagging, he's filing police reports and calling city maintenance crews to remove it. All that takes time.

"We're always painting," said Yee, adding that the graffiti problem at the park has worsened in the past three years. "But it's like this everywhere. ... You kinda feel it's part of your job now."

Vandals have struck Makiki Community Library, located at the park, several times since January. They broke into the facility, which has been closed for renovations since 2005, and vandalized the interior. The outside walls, even a downspout, are covered in graffiti.

"The graffiti, definitely, is a concern for us," said Ron Paik, president of the library's board of directors.

He's frustrated because renovations to the library, which began two years ago, have been halted due to lack of money.

"It's been a year and a half of inconvenience, not just for us, but for the park and the community as a whole," he said. "(The library) is just sitting there vacant and inviting more vandalism."

Along with Hui O Makiki, he hopes to meet with the city soon to discuss more funding to complete the $1.7 million project.

But graffiti isn't a problem specific to Makiki, said Les Chang, director of the city's Department of Parks and Recreation.

"There is no neighborhood immune from it," Chang said. "It's something we all gotta get concerned about. Enough is enough already. I think we all have to start feeling that way."

Reach Catherine E. Toth at ctoth@honoluluadvertiser.com.