The body of a homeless woman who lived at a picnic table in Ala Moana Beach Park was found on the beach early yesterday morning.

The woman was found between lifeguard towers 1B and IC after the call came in at 6:56 a.m., said Bryan Cheplic, spokesman for the city's Emergency Services Department.

The woman appeared to be in her 50s, Cheplic said. She was pronounced dead at 7:17 a.m.

The Honolulu medical examiner's office said the woman had not been identified.

Police classified the case as an unattended death and said there were no indications of foul play.

Jason Bringas of Ho- nolulu paddles regularly at the park and was there early yesterday morning, sitting in his truck waiting for daylight. Bringas heard a commotion, went to the beach near Tower 1C and saw the woman's body.

"She had her head on the sand and her heels in the water," Bringas said, "like someone had just pulled her out of the water."

Bringas said the woman was wearing a tank top, shorts and a swim cap.

A man who stays in the park and who gave his name as Paul said the woman was homeless and lived in the park.

He did not know her name. "She lived over there," he said, pointing to a picnic table where a park employee was taking away what appeared to be the woman's meager possessions: several large garbage bags filled with personal items and a portable propane camp stove.

"I saw her sitting on the picnic table last night about 10, and she appeared to be all right," Paul said.

He said the woman never left the park. Often when he arrived daily at 4 a.m., she would be in the restroom near Tower 1C showering and washing laundry.

Ku'uipo Kealoha, who was pushing a cart with her possessions and said she recently moved to the park, often saw the woman but did not know her name.

Kealoha, who is from Moloka'i, said, "She kept to herself, didn't want to have anything to do with anybody."

Kealoha looked around the park where people were spreading out picnics, listening to music or playing ball, then looked back toward the spot where the woman was found. People were sunning themselves and swimming near Tower 1C.

"Sad, huh?" Kealoha said, then pushed her cart off toward the picnic tables.