Question: They’re saying the homeless population is way down, but not in Hawaii Kai. You didn’t use to see homeless guys at the bus stop on Keahole Street the way you do now. It’s sad. Is the census by island only, or does it get to the neighborhood level?
Answer: The annual Point in Time Count lists the number of homeless people statewide, by island and within regions of each island. As you indicated, the total homeless population could be down islandwide while rising within certain subdistricts.
For the 2018 count, which was conducted Jan. 22, the number of unsheltered homeless people on Oahu was found to be 7.7 percent lower than the year before, at a total of 2,145 individuals (the 2017 count found 2,324). However, this unsheltered population was higher in three of the seven Oahu subdistricts counted, including East Honolulu, which encompasses Hawaii Kai.
“Unsheltered homeless” refers to people who aren’t living in conventional housing, emergency housing, transitional housing or a homeless shelter. Homeless people living primarily at a bus stop, a park or the beach (as other callers mentioned for that region and others) would be counted in the unsheltered category.
Of the seven Oahu districts, four showed declines in unsheltered homeless: Downtown Honolulu, down 20.3 percent; Kaneohe to Waimanalo, down 9.5 percent; Wahiawa to North Shore, down 27 percent; and Upper Windward, down 18.1 percent. Three showed increases: East Honolulu, up 7.8 percent; Ewa, up 8.2 percent; and the Waianae Coast, up 17.6 percent.
These figures come from the “topline report” of the 2018 PIT Count, which you can read at 808ne.ws/pit2018.
Honor a volunteer
Know a community volunteer 50 or older who improve the lives of others? Nominate them for the 2018 Hawaii Andrus Award for Community Service, bestowed by the AARP on those who use their life experience to make the world a better place.
To be eligible, nominees:
>> Must be living and at least 50 years old; this is not a posthumous award.
>> Must not have been paid for the community service or achievement for which they are nominated; the award is for volunteers.
>> Must have performed the service in 2017 or earlier.
Couples or partners who volunteer as a duo are eligible, but larger teams are not.
Contact Ida Holtsinger at ida-aarp@hawaiiantel.net or 545-6025 for a nomination form and more information. The nomination deadline is June 1.
Nominees will be evaluated based on how their service has improved the community, inspired other volunteers and supported AARP’s aims, according to the news release.
The winner, who will be announced this fall, will be recognized at a luncheon, and the AARP Hawaii will donate $500 to an organization of the recipient’s choice.
Last year AARP Hawaii honored Bill and Lena Staton of Maui for service to veterans and the community.
Auwe
Auwe! We are living in a loused-up country. The other day at the Pali Safeway, long line. Slows down. Little old lady’s credit card no good and not enough cash for her evening dinner and perhaps weekend food. Everyone just stares down. Nobody — including me — steps up to pay about $25 to $30. Little old lady left empty-handed. Later on it sank in on me, and I realized: We are living in one of the richest countries in the world, and there’s a little old lady having to go home, probably hungry for the weekend. Shame on us. — Aloha, Gerhard Hamm
Mahalo
A belated mahalo to the kind gentleman who paid for our lunch at a Waipio cafe that specializes in Filipino food. We are grateful to you, our anonymous friend. Next time, join us! — The regulars
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.
