Homelessness, native issues top meeting on Thomas Square

Photo Gallery: Thomas Square forum

Advocates for Hawaiian sovereignty and other Native Hawaiian causes, the homeless and the (de)Occupy Hono­lulu movement dominated a community forum on the future of Thomas Square at the Honolulu Museum of Art on Monday night.

The boisterous exchange showed deeply rooted divisiveness on the issue. While some attendees argued that the city and state should hand the park back to Native Hawaiian interests, others spoke of the need to provide more facilities to assist the homeless who hang out there.

Another segment of the audience urged the city to beautify it for the good of all Hono­lulu residents.

Thomas Square has been a lightning rod of controversy since the (de)Occupy Hono­lulu movement, the local version of Occupy Wall Street, made the park its headquarters in 2011.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell and the City Council have led recent city efforts to remove the group from Thomas Square. Most recently, Caldwell announced plans to revitalize the park in time for its 170th anniversary and included $1 million in the upcoming budget to beautify the grounds.

Caldwell has drawn both praise and criticism for trimming trees and placing planter boxes on the mauka sidewalk, effectively blocking (de)Occupy from placing tents there. A similar plan is in the works on the makai side, pushing (de)Occupy’s tents to the Ward Avenue side of the Neal Blaisdell Center Concert Hall.

About 200 people attended the meeting sponsored by the city and the museum at the Doris Duke Theatre. Thomas Square, a state-owned, city-run park at King Street and Ward Avenue, is across Beretania Street from the museum.

The meeting was moderated by museum Director Stephan Jost, with Georgette Deemer, city deputy managing director, taking notes.

About 2 out of every 3 people who spoke at the "open mic" advocated for Hawaiian sovereignty, the homeless or both.

Ilima Long, who helps organize the annual Hawaiian sovereignty restoration day, La Ho‘i­ho‘i Ea, said the two issues go hand in hand.

"Thomas Square is a symbol of sovereignty," Long said. "Homelessness is a symbol of occupation."

Long and others referred to the fact that the park was named after British Adm. Richard Thomas, who on July 31, 1843, lowered the British Union Jack and hoisted a Hawaiian flag at the park after returning government power to Kame­ha­meha III after it was seized by Lord George Paulet.

Long said Caldwell’s attempts to clean up the area are a shameful "facade" to cover the true motive of ousting (de)Occupy Hono­lulu supporters and the homeless from the area.

Joseph "Iokepa" Madela of the Kingdom of Hawaii Royal Guards urged that the park be managed and controlled by the Kingdom of Hawaii and that native plants be grown there that could be used by cultural practitioners on Restoration Day annually.

"It’s funny," Madela told the (de)Occupy Hono­lulu supporters. "They accuse you of occupying Thomas Square, but they occupy the whole aina. … Stand up and fight!"

Lucas Miller, a (de)Occupy Hono­lulu member, said planter boxes placed by the city make it difficult for pedestrians and those using wheelchairs to squeeze through.

Sam Mitchell, a member of the Makiki/Lower Punchbowl/Tantalus Neighborhood Board, said he’s bothered that Caldwell did not discuss the installation of the planters with the board.

"As far as I’m concerned, they should be all taken out," Mitchell said. "They’re basically there to get the Occupy people out of the park, and they’re affecting everybody in the park."

But not all at the meeting advocated for sovereignty or the homeless.

Jack James said he does not begrudge protesters, but "it shouldn’t be used as a place of residence for anyone." The park needs to be clean and "used by everybody," he said, adding, "It should attract everybody. It should have art. You may even want to have a cafe in the center."

Area resident Walter Ballinski Jr. said, "I’m tired of seeing a shantytown." He urged those camped there to "respect the land, respect the people of Hawaii."

Ballinski’s comments drew jeers from some.

Cheryl Chang of the Hawaii Dog Coalition said scores of pet education events are held at Thomas Square annually. "This is a central area that needs to be kept as a green space," she said, adding that it is also used for craft fairs, powwows and other events.

Jacque LeBlanc, a spokes­woman for the Hawaiian Humane Society, said 40 percent of Oahu’s homes have dogs. "It is our greatest hope that Thomas Square remains pet-friendly," LeBlanc said.

Roland Louie said he applauds Caldwell’s efforts to clean the sidewalks along Beretania. "In the past I’m afraid to walk on Beretania Street," Louie said. "I think the sidewalks should belong to everybody, not just special-interest groups."

Roy Goshi-Otaguro said the park is not someplace he wants to take his children.

"I want to see the park again as beautiful as it might have been once," Goshi-Otaguro said. "All I see now as I drive by is protesting, and that’s fine, but it’s constant protesting (and) if that’s all you’re going to see in the park, then the whole aspect of it being a public park is lost someplace. It’s only serving a few individuals."

Caldwell said he wants public input before proceeding with the major renovations.

"I know we all respect those who walked before us, and this park is symbolic of that," he said. "We have to figure out a way to honor this place."

Caldwell and Jost said their inclination would be to have art in the park.