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.
A hub for homeless services will go up in the middle of Waipahu Cultural Garden Park — home to Hawaii’s Plantation Village. At the same time, within a 5-mile radius, a zero tolerance for illegal homeless activity also will go into effect. Read more
Maui continues to see progress in reducing its homeless population — now down to 862 individuals, according to the latest count — but back-to-back violence at a new homeless encampment underscores lingering problems. Read more
A majority of registered Hawaii voters across all islands believe homelessness has gotten “worse” over the last year — but they’re split on whether homeless sweeps are “worthwhile,” according to the Honolulu Star- Advertiser’s Hawaii Poll. Read more
The Institute for Human Services has kicked off a program to reduce the chronically homeless population in Waikiki, the epicenter of the state’s tourism economy. Read more
From July 2018 through June 30, vandalism repairs cost the city $223,000, a nearly 5% decrease from the previous fiscal year when vandalism repairs cost the city $234,000. Read more
The city is considering buying 1615 Ala Wai Blvd., a derelict apartment building sandwiched between the Watermark, one of Oahu’s toniest condominiums, and freshly renovated walk-up apartments. Read more
A deputy prosecutor and a deputy public defender have joined forces to make personal contact and offer services directly to the homeless on Oahu. Read more
Officials with the city, state and the Institute for Human Services are teaming up on a new approach to deal with homeless people with mental health issues by trying to get court-ordered help for the first of potentially hundreds of homeless people on Oahu. Read more
A Hawaiian blessing was held Friday morning for the new Kaneohe Joint Outreach Center, a medical clinic now serving the homeless on the Windward side of Oahu. Read more
The nonprofit Steadfast Housing Development Corp. and ‘Ohana Health Plan have teamed up for the first time on a $554,000 federal grant to fund Housing First, market-rate rental units for at least 32 of Oahu’s most chronically homeless. Read more
A combination of state funding and matching donations resulted in checks on Wednesday totalling more than $105,000 to two organizations working to address homelessness in Chinatown. Read more
Concerns are raised on the use of $4.5 million to provide shelter instead of medical services. Read more
Two officials with the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness are in town to share a message with more than 220 mayors from across the United States that progress can be made, even in high-cost housing markets like Hawaii. Read more
The homeless in the Iwilei area soon will have their own version of an urgent-care facility aimed at providing immediate, but not-quite emergency, medical help. Read more
Monday represented the first time Community Outreach Court was held on the Windward side, when Kaneohe District Court is otherwise out of session. Read more
The combination of drugs, alcohol, poor health, lack of hygiene and medical attention mean Oahu’s homeless population has an average lifespan potentially decades shorter than the population in general. Read more
The causes of death were varied, although disease and narcotics use were common causes. Read more
The city pavilions in Kuhio Beach park on Kalakaua Avenue were built so local residents and tourists could pause awhile to bask in the beauty of Waikiki’s sandy shores. Read more
The new head of the organization that conducts Oahu’s annual homeless census has a familiar name but an entirely different background outside of state politics. Read more
Residents have found reasons to stay at Kakaako Gateway parks despite various efforts from the city, state and private organizations to move the homeless away from that area. Read more
Since the Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s five-part series on homelessness in Chinatown began running this week, life already has changed for at least one of the people featured who had been on the streets for 17 years. Read more
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