HONOLULU -- Mayor Mufi Hannemann on Monday sent City Council members a proposal to rename Aina Moana Beach Park, also known as Magic Island, President Barack Obama Beach Park.

The mayor said that the Department of Parks and Recreation would like an amendment to change the requirement that parks, sites or facilities be named on after people who are deceased.

A resolution requesting the change of name points to Obama's birth in Honolulu, living on Oahu and graduating from Punahou School.

Hannemann campaigned for Obama during the presidential campaign.

It is the right thing to do because cities all over the country now have streets and parks named after the Hawaii-born president, the mayor's office said. It is silly Hawaii does not have something named after the president since Honolulu is his hometown, spokesman Bill Brennan said.

Hannemann's idea to rename the park Magic Island after President Barack Obama has not been popular with KITV.com users. A survey on KITV.com found overwhelming opposition along with critical remarks in the u local section below.

"If I were to go on polls. There is no way that rail would have been built. No way I would have been mayor. I trailed in every poll. I just think we need more understanding. This is a local guy in the presidency, in the white house. It's not often we're going to have that opportunity to name something after him," Hannemann said.

Obama and his family and friends enjoyed a picnic at Magic Island when they visited Honolulu in August 2008.

Hannemann most recently got an exception to that law made to name the Municipal Building after former Mayor Frank Fasi.