Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Saturday, December 14, 2024 75° Today's Paper


Top News

City plans back-to-back homeless sweeps in Kakaako next week

DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARADVERTISER.COM
Tents and property pile up on the corner of Ilalo and Keawe Street on Sept. 16.

The city will make two sweeps of the Kakaako homeless encampment next week.

On Monday, the sweep will take place on Keawe Street, from Ilalo Street to Ala Moana Boulevard; Ilalo Street, from Keawe Street to Coral Street; Coral Street, from Ilalo Street to Ala Moana Boulevard; and Ala Moana Boulevard, from Keawe Street to Coral Street (makai side only), beginning about 11 a.m.

On Tuesday, enforcement of the sidewalk nuisance and stored property ordinances will take place on Coral Street, from Ilalo Street to Ala Moana Boulevard; Ilalo Street, from Coral Street to Cooke Street; Cooke Street, from Ilalo Street to Ala Moana Boulevard; and Ala Moana Boulevard, from Coral Street to Cooke Street, beginning about 11 a.m.

The back-to-back sweeps were announced Friday in a press release from Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s office.

The city’s first sweep of the encampment was conducted on Sept. 8, and the second was completed on Thursday.

"Enforcements will continue to take place in a phased approach on the remaining blocks of Kaka‘ako Makai in subsequent weeks. Notices have been posted and handed out throughout Kaka‘ako Makai in Chuukese, English, Marshallese, and Samoan," city officials said.

The Kakaako homeless encampment surrounding the University of Hawaii Medical School and Hawaii Children’s Discovery Center grew to about 300 campers in recent months as the city enforced sidewalk ordinances in areas like Waikiki, Chinatown and downtown. 

The stepped-up enforcement of city ordinances came in the wake of escalating violence and concerns about health and safety in the encampment.

Comments are closed.