By Laura Ruminski West Hawaii Today lruminski@westhawaiitoday.com | Friday, February 23, 2024, 12:05 a.m.
A homeless camp at the Kona Aquatics Center and Kekuaokalani Gym was the subject of park rules enforcement Thursday morning. Courtesy photo/Special to West Hawaii Today.
A homeless encampment at the Kona Aquatics Center was removed Thursday morning with police and Parks and Recreation staff performing park rules enforcement.
“Any time we know there is a certain group of people violating Hawaii County code or other ordinances, we will do an enforcement action in conjunction with the police department,” said Parks and Recreation Director Maurice Messina.
He said code enforcement includes setting up a residence in a park, being in a park after hours, refuse violations, sanitary violations, no camping permits, drinking and drug use.
Messina said 14 individuals were still at the park on Wednesday after being given a two-week notice to vacate. Thursday morning there were eight people left, with six of the eight accepting housing solutions.
Kristen Alice of Hope Services said prior to their arrival at the encampment site, they confirmed availability of five beds at the Hilo shelter facility, with no beds available in Kona or Pahoa.
“Three individuals accepted Hope shelter beds,” she said, explaining one went to a West Hawaii Emergency Housing Program shelter bed Wednesday, one to Hale Maluhia Women’s Shelter in Hilo, and one to Keolahou Emergency Shelter for men in Hilo.
One individual was referred to a Care Hawaii Stabilization bed and is pending placement
“Eight individuals declined shelter, because there were not enough beds in Kona, and they did not want to relocate to Hilo. All are interested in shelter and are receiving case management and outreach services from our team,” she said. “We would like to add that we appreciate Hawaii Police Department and Parks and Recreation’s approach and engagement at (Thursday’s) sweep. They were patient, served with respect and compassion, and gave people time and space to pack up. No dump truck was present, and the county Parks and Recreation Department staff assisted with packing and loading people’s belongings.”
Regina Weller of 808 Homeless Task Force said she was able to place one woman with her brother and establish a relationship with others, purchasing them phones so they could communicate. She also was able to send another person back to their family in Colorado Springs.
“You buy them clothes, you give them hope,” said Weller. “You talk to them and interview them and before you know it they are talking about their families. I become their case manager. They need specialized care because everybody’s different.”
In the last two weeks, she sent 15 individuals home and put three in rehab at Sand Island. Last year Weller, a one-woman force of nature, sent 55 people back home to family, placed 71 in housing, 12 in rehab.
Up until now, Messina said they have not had the need to issue trespass notices, because when they come in for an enforcement, they do all of the outreach ahead of time with the police department and outreach specialists and everyone has been compliant in leaving the area or accepting services.
He said code enforcement includes setting up a residence in a park, being in a park after hours, refuse violations, sanitary violations, no camping permits, drinking and drug use.
Messina said 14 individuals were still at the park on Wednesday after being given a two-week notice to vacate. Thursday morning there were eight people left, with six of the eight accepting housing solutions.
Kristen Alice of Hope Services said prior to their arrival at the encampment site, they confirmed availability of five beds at the Hilo shelter facility, with no beds available in Kona or Pahoa.
“Three individuals accepted Hope shelter beds,” she said, explaining one went to a West Hawaii Emergency Housing Program shelter bed Wednesday, one to Hale Maluhia Women’s Shelter in Hilo, and one to Keolahou Emergency Shelter for men in Hilo.
One individual was referred to a Care Hawaii Stabilization bed and is pending placement
“Eight individuals declined shelter, because there were not enough beds in Kona, and they did not want to relocate to Hilo. All are interested in shelter and are receiving case management and outreach services from our team,” she said. “We would like to add that we appreciate Hawaii Police Department and Parks and Recreation’s approach and engagement at (Thursday’s) sweep. They were patient, served with respect and compassion, and gave people time and space to pack up. No dump truck was present, and the county Parks and Recreation Department staff assisted with packing and loading people’s belongings.”
Regina Weller of 808 Homeless Task Force said she was able to place one woman with her brother and establish a relationship with others, purchasing them phones so they could communicate. She also was able to send another person back to their family in Colorado Springs.
“You buy them clothes, you give them hope,” said Weller. “You talk to them and interview them and before you know it they are talking about their families. I become their case manager. They need specialized care because everybody’s different.”
In the last two weeks, she sent 15 individuals home and put three in rehab at Sand Island. Last year Weller, a one-woman force of nature, sent 55 people back home to family, placed 71 in housing, 12 in rehab.
Up until now, Messina said they have not had the need to issue trespass notices, because when they come in for an enforcement, they do all of the outreach ahead of time with the police department and outreach specialists and everyone has been compliant in leaving the area or accepting services.
