The city has begun towing away illegally parked vehicles left overnight at Mokule'ia Beach Park.

Police said they had issued a warning and began towing vehicles on Thursday in an effort to clean the area, including the removal of hundreds of pets.

All vehicles were removed from the park, said Rose Kaneakua, who has lived there for 10 years. Automobiles that still were operable were driven away by their owners, Kaneakua said.

Campsites were left alone, she said. Five of the 10 families still remained and a new family moved on to the beach the following day, she said.