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CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU
A hallway at the Punawai Rest Stop leads to individual showers and bathrooms.
The four-story industrial building-turned-homeless hub in Iwilei has had 578 visits through Tuesday since opening on Jan. 8.
Mental Health Kokua, contracted by the city to operate this “first of its kind facility,” greeted the visitors with aloha, the city said in a news release.
The Punawai Rest Stop provides the homeless with restrooms, hot showers and laundry services seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Mail service is also available. Guests can use the 431 Kuwili St. address to receive correspondence.
It also allows people to connect with other services such as drug treatment provided by nonprofits and the city.
City Councilman Joey Manahan said without the rest stop, “people experiencing homelessness would have to resort to getting cleaned up at our beaches, in our parks, in our streams and waterways, not to mention, our places of business.”
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