A special city clean-up crew this morning began dismantling dozens of homeless encampments on Navy land fronting Blaisdell Park from Hawaiian Electric Co.’s Waiau power plant to Waimalu Stream.

The crew started this morning by clearing the most persistent encampments near the power plant that were dug into the shoreline and was expected to take most of the day clearing out tents and tarps along the popular bike path.

“It is quite sad to see the condition that some of these people are living in,” said City Councilman Brandon Elefante, who represents the area.

Bunny Boisjolie, 64, has been living along the bike path for more than two years. Boisjolie said she has limited housing options, especially since she recently adopted a pitbull mix puppy named Cleopatra that had been abandoned at the park.

“What else can we do?” she asked. “I guess we gotta go.”

Elefante said he hopes the people being swept today decide to take advantage of ongoing offers of assistance, including shelter beds or, possibly, long-term housing.

But he said it’s likely that some of the people will just set up camp in someone else’s neighborhood.

“We have a severe housing crisis and a homeless crisis,” Elefante said.