Never mind that the man won a Nobel Peace Prize two months ago.

Some parkgoers at Magic Island Beach Park last night gave a thumbs-down to a plan to rename the 30-acre Magic Island section of Ala Moana Beach Park after Honolulu-born President Obama.

Formally known as 'Äinamoana Beach Park, Mayor Mufi Hannemann wants to rename the peninsula President Barack Obama Beach Park. Ala Moana Beach Park would keep its name.

"You want my honest opinion? I think it's stupid," said Kevin Calai, 40, a Käne'ohe laborer. "Magic Island's always been Magic Island. What significance is it going to be as Barack Obama Beach Park? Why change what doesn't need to be changed?"

Calai said he voted for Obama, and could see the name change proposed down the line.

Obama spent most of his formative years just miles from Ala Moana and Magic Island. He lived in Mänoa and Makiki, and attended both Noelani Grade School and Punahou School, where he graduated in 1979.

In August 2008, then-presidential candidate Obama took his family and staff to Magic Island for a picnic lunch of Kua 'Aina burgers and fries.

Hannemann this week introduced a resolution calling for the name change, which must be approved by the City Council to take effect.

City law says a city park or other facility cannot be named for a living person except under certain conditions if approved by the council.

Hannemann, in the resolution, reasons that Obama "was born in Hawai'i and has achieved significant recognition historically on the city, state, national and international level."

A handful of schools and streets on the Mainland have been named for Obama since election, such as the Barack Obama Elementary School (formerly Ludlum Elementary) in Hempstead, N.Y. But Magic Island could be the first park named for him.

Several years ago, Hannemann successfully pushed for the Honolulu Municipal Building at King and Alapa'i streets renamed the Mayor Frank Fasi Municipal Building after the longtime (and living) mayor, who attended the renaming ceremony.

Darryl Pang, 48, an 'Aiea information technology worker, said Magic Island has too much significance and history to go through a name change. He recalled attending 50th State Fairs as a youth.

"It just wouldn't be the same," Pang said. "I have no problem with Obama. Personally, I like the guy."

Shay Marcus, a 45-year-old Makiki food and beverage worker, said renaming the park after Obama would be "a terrible idea."

"He's president, but I don't know if he deserves that honor yet," Marcus said. "If he's successful ... or if he passes unexpectedly, then maybe as some kind of tribute. Because he's still in office, that's kind of corn-doggish."

Hale'iwa carpenter Kanoelani Kalanui, 49, said he grew up in Kalihi and recalls when Magic Island first became a beach park.

"Magic Island is Magic Island," Kalanui said. "Maybe they can have the transit system named after him."

Magic Island is a man-made peninsula that used to be shallow reef, according to a Web site on ocean safety put up by the four counties, the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association, the state Department of Health and the University of Hawai'i School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology as a non-profit venture.

At the east end of Ala Moana Beach Park, it was completed in 1964. Originally, a developer had envisioned it as the first phase of a resort hotel complex, the Web site said.

The resort project was abandoned and the state converted it into a beach public park. In 1972, Magic Island was officially renamed 'Äinamoana, or "land (from the) sea," recognizing that it was made from dredged coral fill. The area was later given to the city in a land exchange in 1991.