James Webb never rested for the entire year he lived on the streets of Waikiki, always hungry and fearing that someone would mess with him or steal his stuff.

"You have to be constantly vigilant," said Webb, 19. "You never know what’s going to happen. I got beat up. I lost my clothes and my ID."

That world is a far cry from the one Webb lives in today. A few weeks ago he left Waikiki for Hale Kipa’s Transitional Living Program, which provides free temporary housing to young adults, ages 18 to 21, who are trying to lift themselves out of homelessness.

He’s now living in an Ewa Beach condominium in a good neighborhood. He doesn’t have to constantly look over his shoulder to feel safe. There’s enough to eat, a bathroom with a hot shower and a closet where he stores his ukulele and neatly hangs a few precious garments.

His room is decorated with mementos of the dangerous life he just left behind and the life he wants. Pinned to Webb’s wall are a few letters from a friend, a 17-year-old runaway serving time in youth detention. There’s also a congratulatory card on his acceptance into the transitional program from the staff at Youth Outreach, a Hale Kipa program that serves as a Waikiki drop-in center for runaways, homeless and street-identified youth.

"I wanted to remember where I came from and where I’m going," said Webb, who was a military brat before becoming homeless in one of the world’s top resorts.

The child of a Marine, Webb lived in Kailua from kindergarten until his family was transferred to the mainland his sophomore year. Homesick for Oahu, Webb left his family in 2009 to move back. "It was OK at first. Then I hit some stumbling blocks," he said.

Webb was working two jobs but was barely making it. He rented rooms and "couch surfed" until the welcome and his money ran out. He became homeless and moved to Waikiki to find other teens in similar situations. "Sometimes there would be as many as 15 of us hanging out. Every night there would be two to four kids as young as 10."

Webb quickly fell into the grueling rhythm of street life. He began staying awake until 4 a.m. and then making his way from the tourist district to Ala Moana Beach Park to sleep. The pattern kept him from a park closure citation but made it hard to get to Wai­anae for his morning shift at 7-Eleven.

"By the time I could finally sleep, it was already time to get on the bus," Webb said. "I kept it up for about three months. Then I decided that I liked my sanity more than I liked that particular job."

Webb caught a break when he found work in Waikiki, ironically, selling designer wear at the Armani Exchange. The gig ended when Webb’s Armani clothes, which he was required to wear to work, were stolen. He also witnessed a friend get beat up and later die. He’s thankful that he doesn’t have to worry about those things happening at his new home.

"I feel safe here. I love having my own closet and bathroom," Webb said with pride in his new surroundings.

Having access to hot showers, fresh clothes and an employment specialist makes Webb’s latest job hunt easier.

Kimberly Chai, the program’s employment specialist, expects Webb will find work quickly. "He’s personable and pre­sents himself well," Chai said.

The main concern is finding Webb a job that’s close to his new home and far from the distractions of Waikiki, she said.

Alika Campbell, Youth Outreach and Transitional Living Program coordinator, said Waikiki’s allure is a reason that the program has openings. "Their world gets small on the streets. Saying that they are going to move to Ewa is almost like saying that they are moving to Mongolia," Campbell said. "We had to work on James for quite a while before he said, ‘OK, yeah.’"

Also, some youth balk at the program’s rules, he said. "They think they have freedom on the street, but in reality everyone wants something and nothing is free," Campbell said.

The program’s rules help former street youth adjust to structure, said Lei­anne Nagum, Webb’s case manager. They have to look for a job, stick to a schedule and clean up after themselves.

They get to choose where they go from there, Nagum said. "This is just the first step. Their goals are their goals," she said. "Success is different for everyone."

Regardless of the path Webb takes, he is enjoying the chance to settle into a life where he can make plans beyond today. "It’s nice thinking about tomorrow," he said.