Yesterday, the Hawaiʻi County Department of Parks and Recreation, in collaboration with other County agencies, including the Office of Housing and Community Development and the Hawaiʻi State Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement, initiated a park rules enforcement operation at Hale Hālāwai to address homeless encampments within and around the park facility.

The large-scale operation involved resources, including participation by the County Kona maintenance staff, Hawaiʻi County Police Department Community Policing Officers (CPOs), and vehicles dedicated to transporting refuse to the Kona transfer station.

“We understand that enforcement cannot always be the answer, but we also have to ensure that our parks are safe for our local families, especially our keiki, to enjoy,” said Mayor Mitch Roth in a press release. Mayor Roth continued, “Our goal is to continue working with our on-island service providers to get folks the help they need. We have made and will continue to make significant investments in addressing homelessness islandwide and are steadfast in our commitment to building a sustainable Hawaiʻi Island where everyone has the opportunity to thrive and succeed.”

Efforts by homeless outreach specialists, under the direction of OHCD, have been ongoing to conduct outreach to individuals in the area. Preliminary assessments indicate that approximately half of the individuals will be open to accepting the offered services.

To ensure the proper handling of personal property that individuals cannot take with them, Mayor Roth directed the placement of a 40-foot Matson container at the County Parks’ Kona base yard. The non-perishable, non-hazardous, and non-junk property will be inventoried and stored for a period of 30 days before any necessary disposal.

Upon completion of the operation, all encampments, unauthorized campers, and individuals establishing residence within the County park facility will no longer be present.

The Roth administration has executed contracts with 13 nonprofits for 16 projects, receiving $7.5 million in grants through the Homelessness and Housing Fund. Furthermore, an additional $18 million has been allocated for the Affordable Housing Production Program, which is currently accepting proposals until June 30.

The first phase of the Kūkuiola Emergency Shelter and Assessment Center in Kailua-Kona is underway, with mass grading in progress. This phase includes 16 emergency shelter units, and vertical construction is scheduled to commence in early 2024.

The County believes these ongoing programs, substantial investments in addressing homelessness and affordable housing through the establishment of the Homelessness and Housing Fund and the Affordable Housing Production Program, and the development of dedicated projects like the Kūkuiola Emergency Shelter and Assessment Center will contribute to reducing the number of Hawaiʻi Island residents experiencing homelessness.