Homeless cause problems at libraries across Oahu

Question: I go to the Hawaii State Library on King Street weekly. For years, overloaded carts and other items belonging to the homeless are placed on library property and at the entrance steps. One day, the stench coming from two carts was overwhelming. Men’s bathrooms also are in disrepair and smelly, and a few months ago I saw a sign in one bathroom that said, "Do not defecate on the floor." Disgusting. Who allows this continued abuse of public property? Where do I send a complaint?

Answer: You can complain to state library officials, but it isn’t a complaint they haven’t heard at libraries across the island, let alone at the flagship facility on South King Street.

"The homeless ‘presence’ at our public libraries is not only endemic to Hawaii, but is also occurring nationwide," said Paul H. Mark, spokesman for the Hawaii State Library System. "We try not to assume anyone is ‘homeless,’ but there are many people using our public libraries who appear to fit the generally accepted description."

He said the main library receives complaints daily about the "homeless" causing problems in the restrooms and other areas.

"Our security guards and staff strive to do the best they can with the current laws that are in place,"Mark said. "It is extremely difficult to catch someone in the act of creating a mess in our restrooms without violating our patrons’ reasonable expectation of privacy, so we do what is necessary to cope with high-volume use while maintaining sanitary conditions."

Security guards make frequent checks of the public restrooms, he said, while janitors clean the restrooms throughout the day.

For a "major mess," the restroom is closed until janitors are able to complete a thorough cleaning, he said.

There is no simple solution to the problem. Someone can’t be banned from the library just for being "smelly," for example.

And "we are not aware of any state law, rule or policy concerning the removal of shopping carts from state property,"Mark said.

"However, if a shopping cart or anything else is blocking the way or creating a health and safety issue, we tell the owner to remove it," he said. "Depending on the circumstances, the Sheriff’s Department or the Honolulu Police Department may be contacted for assistance."

Asked whether there is a homeless presence on the library grounds after hours, Mark said there is no evidence of people sleeping in tents or similar structures when staff leave at night or arrive in the morning.

Mark said officials from the Institute for Human Services visit the library regularly "but have had limited success in encouraging the homeless individuals to seek housing assistance."

Because many library branches are centrally located or near parks where the homeless congregate, he said, many experience similar problems with the homeless, including "their sometimes unpredictable behavior," bathing in restrooms, and their large loads of belongings.

Question: Can you help us ASAP in Kaneohe? Upon approaching Kahekili Highway in Kaneohe from four main streets — Kulukeoe, Keaahala, Kahuhipa and Haiku — the lines on Kahekili need to be repainted. Whether you’re coming from the makai side or the mauka side, making a left turn onto Kahekili Highway, the visibility is very poor, especially at night and more so if it’s raining. Repainting the lines in those particular areas could solve the problem.

Answer: We passed your concern on to the state Department of Transportation because Kahekili is a state roadway.

In the future, for complaints or concerns about the state roads on Oahu, call the Highways Division at 831-6714 or, after hours, 485-6200.

For more information, go to the DOT website: hidot.hawaii.gov/highways.

Mahalo

To the road crew who did an excellent job of resurfacing the road in the Maili area on the Waianae Coast. They were very polite and didn’t cause much of a traffic problem. — Bill S.

——

Write to "Kokua Line" at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.