Campers depart Kauai’s
county beach parksThose who stay must have valid
permits or face possible arrest
LIHUE >> Campers using Kauai's county beach parks without permits struck their tents Sunday and were gone by yesterday morning, the deadline Mayor Bryan Baptiste had given them a month ago to leave the parks or face arrest.
Those who departed county campgrounds included many of Kauai's estimated 500 to 600 homeless.
"I believe everyone has found someplace," said Stephanie Fernandes, homeless programs director for Kauai Economic Opportunity, a nonprofit social services agency.
"I'm sure some have left the island, either for the mainland or other islands," Fernandes said. "Some of the churches are providing shelter to a few families."
Others might be sleeping in their vehicles, she said.
Kauai is the only county without a homeless shelter. Baptiste ordered the parks cleared of squatters without providing county funds or facilities to shelter the homeless.
Campers with permits yesterday said park ranger Raymond Toguchi arrived at Anahola County Beach Park on Thursday with six police patrol cars. They said Toguchi warned them that anyone illegally camping in county parks the following week could be arrested.
The campers also said they believe much of the problem of squatting on county campgrounds was Toguchi's doing because he issued permits to the same people day after day for months.
Under county ordinances, any family may camp in a county beach park for a maximum of 60 days a year. While checking the parks, rangers do not have access to the county's computer records. If they come upon someone camping without a permit, they can issue a $5 permit on the spot, but for only one night.
Campers said Toguchi -- who patrols the island's north and northeast shore -- sold the same people permits night after night long after their 60 days had expired. The practice encouraged squatters, they said.
Toguchi could not be reached for comment.
Some campers using the parks legally yesterday still were angry at Baptiste for evicting those without permits.
Peter Korner, a 31-year Kauai resident and construction worker, said he is living at Anini County Beach Park because he cannot afford rent.
He has a valid camping permit, but it will expire.
"I've never been homeless before," Korner said, "but when they raised my rent from $400 to $700 a month in one shot, I had to give up my apartment."
"I have a steady job. I'm paid $18 an hour and I work every day. Every day. And I can't afford a place to live except in a tent," he said.
