HONOLULU (AP) — About 130 people who were living in one of the nation’s largest homeless encampments recently cleared by Hawaii officials have moved their tents into nearby parks.
Gov. David Ige Monday warned the individuals and families who moved into Kakaako Waterfront Park and Kewalo Basin that they have to leave by November 12. That’s the target date the state set to enforce the parks’ 10 p.m. closure.
Organizations have been reaching out to help people move into shelters, and have helped 11 people get into shelters or housing since Oct. 16, said Scott Morishige, state homelessness coordinator. Outreach teams are doing the same on other parts of the island, and are collecting data on homeless people in Waianae, Wahiawa and Waimanalo, he said.
“We do know that the homeless really do migrate to areas where there is no enforcement,” Ige said in a news conference. “So we know that on a going-forward basis, we will have to have some program of compassionate disruption, just as the city does.”
In Kakaako Waterfront Park, a number of campers set up tents, tarps and bicycles under an awning overlooking the Pacific Ocean, with a view of surfers and cruise ships on the horizon. Others had pitched tents on hillsides under shady trees. There were about 90 people, singles and families, living in that park, Morishige said, adjacent to the sidewalks where the sprawling encampment had been.
“Hopefully when they come I’ll just move to another place,” said a 56-year-old man who identified himself as Tupuola, who had pitched his tent under the awning overlooking the ocean. “Just rely on the lord, and trust in him. Hopefully he’ll find us another spot.”
Another 40 people were living in Kewalo Basin, a waterfront park a few blocks away.
The state will monitor shelter space to ensure there’s enough space for the people living in the parks, Morishige said.
Back in Kakaako Waterfront Park, Ola gathered firewood to make a fire to heat up potatoes and tomato soup. Then he thought he’d go for a swim, enjoying his remaining days living by the ocean.
“I’m just trying to prepare me a meal and watch the waves,” Tupuola said.
