Kakaako efforts aim to boost outreach and enforcement

In the wake of the assault of state Rep. Tom Brower, Kaka­ako stakeholders are renewing efforts to address the jurisdictional and social issues that have contributed to a threefold increase since last fall in tents occupied by the homeless.

On Thursday the city will award a contract to operate the Hale Mauli­ola modular housing pilot project in Sand Island, said Jesse Broder Van Dyke, Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s spokes­man. Broder Van Dyke said the city also plans to award the contract for a community assistance program that will reach out to mentally ill homeless residents and those from the Federated States of Micronesia.

"Our efforts are focused islandwide, and ultimately the only solution to homelessness across Oahu is going to be more housing," Broder Van Dyke said. "Homelessness is a problem with no easy solution, but by working together as a community, we can make an impact."

Supporters say the new initiatives will alleviate some of Kaka­ako’s growing homeless problem because they are geared to helping people suffering from mental illness, substance abuse or physical problems — who are generally the most difficult to place into shelters.

Naysayers, however, question whether the efforts are broad enough to meet the full spectrum of Kaka­ako’s changing needs.

Homeless campers are drawn to Kaka­ako — an area they consider a safe zone — because the region is not covered by the city’s sit-lie laws and there have been challenges implementing the city’s stored property and sidewalk nuisance laws there. The jurisdictional issue has led to a perceived lack of enforcement by city and state government and other area landowners, including the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Kame­ha­meha Schools and the Hawaii Community Development Association.

"The most recent enforcement in Kaka­ako took place late last year," Broder Van Dyke said, adding that city crews conduct enforcement five days each week at Oahu locations where there are more complaints.

As such, the spread of sit-lie laws and other homeless enforcement actions beyond Wai­kiki has caused an increase in homeless tents in Kaka­ako — from 65 in mid-September to 183 Tuesday, said Scott Mori­shige, executive director of PHOCUSED, which collects data for homeless service providers.

"Nurses have reported a tripling of tents in less than a year’s time," Mori­shige said. "Originally, providers saw mostly families in Kaka­ako, who were there due to economic reasons. Come January, after sit-lie spread to downtown and Chinatown, they began to see an influx of singles, who have much higher acuities, mental health and substance abuse concerns."

The influx of a more chronically homeless population of singles in Kaka­ako has spread tents beyond a concentrated site near the Hawaii Children’s Discovery Center to as far as Kewalo Basin and Wai­kiki Health’s Next Step Shelter, which is on OHA land.

"With the growing health and safety issues in this area, we would support additional enforcement," said Garrett Kame­moto, communications manager for OHA, which shares ownership and kule­ana of nine parcels.

Over the last year, Kame­moto said, Kaka­ako stakeholders have worked with the city and state to discuss housing and outreach options. They also want to close the gap on geographical loopholes, which hinder law enforcement.

"We’ve been meeting for a year. I’ve started to hear some solutions that sound promising, but it’s complicated," Kame­moto said.

While the city has jurisdiction over sidewalks and roads, the state has jurisdiction over planning and zoning in the Kaka­ako special zone, said Cindy McMillian, a spokes­woman for Gov. David Ige.

"The jurisdictional mishmash in Kaka­ako has been a significant obstacle to effective enforcement there," Broder Van Dyke said.

For instance, Ohe and Olo­me­hani streets are owned by the city, while surrounding properties belong to either OHA, Kame­ha­meha Schools, the University of Hawaii or HCDA, he said.

Early in Caldwell’s administration, Broder Van Dyke said, the city did not enforce sidewalk nuisance and stored property laws in Kaka­ako Waterfront Park because HCDA park rules, including a ban on camping, apply there. "Sheriffs, not the city, conduct enforcement of those park rules," he said.

However, in 2013, Kaka­ako’s deteriorating condition motivated the city to partner with HCDA and the state sheriffs to coordinate law enforcement. Broder Van Dyke said the city also invited OHA, Kame­ha­meha Schools and UH to partner, but the response varied.

"This has resulted in individuals living on the sidewalks removing their property to the adjacent properties owned by OHA, Kame­ha­meha Schools or the University of Hawaii; standing by and watching as the city crews power-wash and clean the city sidewalks; then returning to their original location on the sidewalk as soon as the city crew has departed," he said.

Morishige said serving Kaka­ako’s homeless population requires a coordinated and diverse approach.

"It’s not one size fits all," he said. "In the past, providers were working to engage the population with job training and rental assistance. Now they are dealing with more severe mental health concerns."