The city's plan to refurbish a Nanakuli park that's populated with homeless people may soon expand to include other sites nearby, Mayor Mufi Hannemann said.

"We're looking at some of the adjacent areas, but these things are very sensitive and we want to get to the social service providers and get to the folks who may be affected before we make that announcement," he said during a news conference at Honolulu Hale yesterday.

Hannemann announced a week ago that the rundown Nani Kai section of Ulehawa Beach Park would receive a major overhaul some time in February.

The city launched a similar effort at Ma'ili Beach Park nine months ago, after the state opened a large new homeless shelter in nearby Wai'anae.

Hundreds of families and individuals still live in ragged tents and makeshift structures set up in other parks along the Leeward Coast. There has been growing pressure from some in the community to crack down on illegal camping and ensure the parks are safe and clean.

Hannemann said he is committed to making improvements but asked for continued patience.

"We can't just go in and clean all our beach parks without an alternative place where these folks can go, and we need the state's cooperation to make that happen," Hannemann said.

He said he would provide details of the expanded plan "very shortly."

In other news, Hannemann announced several changes to his Cabinet.

The mayor promoted deputy construction director Craig Nishimura to head the Department of Facility Maintenance.

He will replace Laverne Higa, who requested to return to her civil service position in the Department of Design and Construction, Hannemann said. Higa will also become the mayor's liaison to Honolulu's Okinawan community.

Hannemann said Higa had done an outstanding job overseeing her department.

"She's had the unenviable task of catching up with many years of deferred road maintenance, as well as keeping up with the repair of aging public facilities," he said.

Nishimura's old position will be filled by Russell Takara, the senior program manager for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Pacific Ocean Division.

Hannemann also appointed Mark Oto his deputy director for budget and finance. Oto has served as senior adviser to the Department of Community Services and was formerly chief of staff for state House Speaker Calvin Say.

Oto will be replaced by Ernest Martin, who directs the Office of Special Projects of the Department of Community Services.

Hannemann also switched deputies in the departments of Parks and Recreation and Enterprise Services. Parks deputy Dana Takahara-Dias will move to Enterprise Services; enterprise deputy Gail Haraguchi will move to the parks job.