Honolulu is letting bars serve past 2 a.m. on special occasions — good for bar owners and late-night crowds, but police say they don't have the staff to handle it.

• A new city pilot program lets any Oahu bar apply for a license to stay open until 4 a.m. on special occasions.
• Two Waikiki bars tried it over the weekend and called it a success, with higher sales in that extra hour.
• Bars must switch to exit-only at 2 a.m., stop re-entry, keep noise down, and call last drinks at 3 a.m.
• Honolulu police oppose the program, saying it's hard to enforce and they already field heavy calls — violence and fentanyl overdoses — at the few bars that regularly open until 4.
• Bars that abuse the permission are unlikely to get another one.

Outlook: The two Waikiki bars have approval for the Honolulu Pride festival and Halloween, and another bar's application goes before the liquor commission at its next meeting.