Complaints over illegal activity and houseless individuals near an affordable housing project in Kailua-Kona has county councilmembers considering closing a portion of roadway to stem the problem.
Resolution 478, introduced by North Kona Councilman Holeka Inaba, calls for barricading off for an indeterminate period the southern end of Ka‘eka Street due to complaints raised by residents and management of Lei Kupuna and Lei Ohana at Kamakana Villages over “activities that compromise public safety” including loitering, littering, consumption of alcohol and other illegal activities.
“There are some issues with houseless individuals, and even people not from the area, using that stub-out to consume alcohol and loiter there,” Inaba said, noting he worked with the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, which partnered with developer Stanford Carr and Michaels Management Services on the project, to formulate the plan. “This is kind of the first step in trying to clean up that area.”
Lei Kupuna resident Esther Quam said she “100%” agrees with the closure, noting the unsavory activities that take place on the roadway just makai of the affordable senior rental housing project off Ane Keohokalole Highway.
“To [sic] much drinking, people getting high, and just abusing the land to set up camp for weeks and weeks!” Quam wrote in testimony to the committee. “We use [sic] to be able to take are [keiki] to play not no more as it is not safe and pilau!”
The Department of Public Works and Hawaii Police Department also backed the move, with DPW Director Stephen Pause and Sgt. Mike Hardie each appearing Tuesday before the county Committee on Public Works and Mass Transit to provide in-person testimony in support of the resolution.
“I work directly in the community policing section and our unit specifically deals with this a lot. Just documented incidents is over 30 and it’s suspicious vehicles, suspicious persons — everything you described — intoxicated persons,” Hardie said. “I think it would be very beneficial.”
Closing the southern end of Ka‘eka Street would have no impact on traffic or public access, according to the resolution. The closure would be lifted when deemed fit by the council.
“These are simple things — we deal on a broader scale a lot of times — but these simple measures are what makes life better for our residents in different neighborhoods so I support this completely,” said Hilo Councilman Aaron Chung.
The panel subsequently voted 7-0, with Puna Councilman Matt Kanealii-Kleinfelder and Kohala Councilman Tim Richards excused, to send the resolution with a favorable recommendation to the full council.
“After the (full) council does pass this, I look forward to working with the police department and the Office of Housing to see what we can do for those who are along the main drag as well,” said Inaba.