City to reopen park frequented by homeless

Following the completion of a two-week maintenance project, the city today at 3 p.m. will reopen a park and surrounding sidewalk in Pawaa, which is a favorite campsite for the homeless.

The city Department of Parks and Recreation closed Pawaa In-Ha Park, near South King and McCully streets, Sept. 26 for scheduled maintenance, including tree-trimming, grass-cutting, aerating, and fertilizing.  

The Department of Facility Maintenance also closed the sidewalk along the mauka side of King Street fronting the Pawaa park for maintenance during the same time.

The work was done in part because two delegations from South Korea were here to see sculptures they donated. This year marks the 110th anniversary of Korean immigration to the United States.

The city has received numerous complaints about homeless people at the park and the amount of property regularly stored there, a city official said.