It’s the city’s largest single-site sweep of illegal camping areas yet. But a potentially dangerous situation is developing along the highway.
Honolulu city officials say they started giving notice about two months ago that this day would come — eviction from Keaau Beach Park from encampments that had swelled in count over the years.
"Now the people who no bother nobody all got to go," said Harry Santana, a homeless Keaau resident. "They give us notice that by a certain time everybody had to be out of here."
At the beginning of the year a city count showed 180 adults and 22 children residing along this mile and a half stretch of beach and bush.
"It’s a big dilemma for everybody," said James Rapoza, a homeless Keaau resident. "As you can hear now there’s some last minute pushing and shoving and temper starts to flare."
Ample police presence was on hand. City officials say things stayed under control.
"You know the reaction today has been okay," said Albert Tufono, deputy director of the Honolulu Department of Parks & Recreation. "We’re just hoping for the best hoping, that we can get these people into some shelters, into the facilities that will provide a safe and sanitary situation, rather than living at a park."
The city partnered with social service agencies to find shelter or health services.
"We have a place, but it sucks you know what I mean," said a woman moving out. "It’s not easy."
Animal rescue, resources, even dog food were also available.
"We’ve been working with other community outreach groups for several months, trying to work on this situation," said Keoni Vaughn of the Hawaiian Humane Society. "Our main mission here is to keep people with their pets."
Items in working order left behind will be considered found property and will be kept for 45 days for claiming. items in disrepair, and trash, will be discarded.
"It’s good that they’re cleaning this up," said Makaha resident Lani Michael, "and they need to continue, keep doing it, because it will make Makaha and all the Waianae coast a beautiful place for all of us to share."
Much was left behind, and dozens moved not very far — to the roadside or just across the road, right along Farrington Highway.
"They’re just moving locations, and this makes us angry because they do have services provided for these people, it’s just they choose not to go," Michael said.
The city alerted the state Department of Transportation about the roadside, which says it’s reviewing the situation and has not yet mobilized a response.
"Everybody has different places," Rapoza said. "Some people, just like how we’re doing, go right across the street and into the bushes."
City crews collected 11 green plastic bins full, which will be kept for 45 days. They also posted 11 notices telling people where they can call if they choose to reclaim the property.
See the original article at: KHON2 Local News
