TO OUR READERS
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser and Hawaii News Now are joining forces to report on the ever-worsening homelessness crisis.
While both news organizations will continue to report daily stories on homelessness, we will work together on bigger projects that delve into all aspects of the issue. To reach the widest possible audience for these important projects on this crisis, you will see reports in print, online and on broadcasts.
For example, on this page of the Star-Advertiser and in Hawaii News Now broadcasts on Monday, you will find stories on homeless encampments you might not be aware of and learn details about some of them.
Through stories such as these, we hope to raise awareness among the public — and public officials — about the gravity of the situation and the need to take action to help the homeless and, by doing so, help our community.
Both newsrooms hope you, as readers and viewers, will help with this project by offering comments, observations and suggestions online and in letters to the editor. While a collaboration between two competing newsrooms is unusual, Hawaii’s homelessness crisis requires an unusual approach.
The city plans to open a free wound-care clinic in Chinatown in November to primarily serve the homeless. The clinic would be the first official collaboration between the city and the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine’s Homeless Outreach & Medical Education, or H.O.M.E., program. Read more
Maui County is launching a one-year pilot program to allow residents who sleep in their vehicles to park overnight in a designated county-owned lot. Read more
As Oahu’s summer tourism season comes to its traditional Labor Day end, the main Nimitz Highway corridor that visitors use to get from Daniel K. Inouye International Airport into Waikiki last week was unusually clear of homeless encampments. Read more
Mayor Rick Blangiardi called Thursday’s cleanup a “sanitation” action and not a continuation of former Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s “compassionate disruption” approach to reducing homelessness, which offered social service help combined with cleanups and the threat of law enforcement action. Read more
A majority of Hawaii voters participating in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s Hawaii Poll indicate they have seen no improvement in homelessness in the islands, with 67% saying the problem has gotten worse over the past 12 months. Read more
The Crisis Outreach Response and Engagement program sends emergency medical technicians and community health workers to respond to community concerns and nonviolent, homeless-related 911 calls, and conducts outreach aimed at getting unsheltered homeless people housed. Read more
East Honolulu’s percentage of unsheltered homelessness in 2022 has grown to 24%, or 575 of the 2,355 unsheltered homeless people recorded during the March 10 Point-in-Time count. Read more
Oahu saw a decrease overall in this year’s Point-in-Time Count of homeless people, with the number of people in shelters dropping 24% and the number of those unsheltered increasing by 0.4% compared with the count in 2020. Read more
Homelessness has grown slightly on Hawaii’s neighbor islands, according to the most recent Point-in-Time Count. Read more
Mayor Rick Blangiardi on Tuesday ranked affordable housing, public safety and transportation among top priorities in his State of the City address. Read more
After a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, more than 300 volunteers dispersed across Oahu on Thursday morning to record the number of unsheltered homeless people for the annual Point-in-Time count. Read more
After one year the city has achieved its goal of housing over 300 homeless families using a voucher program supported through federal pandemic relief funds. Read more
A new temporary tent shelter for homeless adults infected with COVID-19 opened Friday at Sand Island. The Institute for Human Services set up the shelter in response to the need to isolate those infected with the coronavirus from individuals at its homeless shelters. Read more
Oahu has postponed its Point-in-Time Count of unsheltered homeless people due to the surge of COVID-19 cases. Read more
The final touches are being applied to Hawaii’s first “kauhale” of 100-square-foot homes in Kalaeloa, providing permanent housing for some of Hawaii’s chronically homeless and most-troubled people living on the street and in shelters. Read more
The children of Kahauiki Village — a community along North Nimitz Highway of 128 formerly homeless families — wrote letters to Santa Claus on Wednesday, including one girl who asked the jolly old elf for a job so she can help out her family. Read more
Homeless people cleared from an encampment near a Kahului park have sued Maui Mayor Michael Victorino and the county, saying the move was unconstitutional and violated their rights. Read more
The city Friday launched its new Crisis Outreach Response and Engagement program, which will use a separate teams of first responders to address nonviolent emergency calls involving the homeless. Read more
Gov. David Ige’s administration is considering a proposal to ask state lawmakers to continue a pilot program tailored to create solutions for homelessness that’s set to expire in 2023. Read more
The city’s long-awaited Crisis Outreach Response and Engagement program, which will use a separate team of first responders to address nonviolent homeless emergency calls, is expected to start in the next two weeks. Read more
The foundation of Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s homelessness strategy was built on two promises: He assured the public that he would end sweeps of encampments and replace police with social workers to address nonviolent 911 calls. Read more
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