Homeless get Easter reprieve

Last-minute gifts let Kawaiahao Church continue providing meals and shelter

Waning resources and overworked volunteers almost shut down a makeshift shelter for about 100 homeless people who have been staying at Kawaiahao Church since the city closed Ala Moana Beach Park last month.

But a last-minute donation means the homeless can have Easter dinner tonight and a place to sleep and shower for one more week.

Kawaiahao's kahu, the Rev. Curt Kekuna, said Central Union Church pledged to share a portion of a recent donation to keep his church's shelter open and kitchen running. Both churches are each housing and feeding more than 75 homeless people who were displaced on March 27 when the city started closing Ala Moana Beach Park nightly.

Central Union has pledged to keep its shelter open through April 30, when the city will decide whether to make the Ala Moana night closure permanent.

The churches are also providing breakfast and dinner for more than 100 people each. And the meal lines, officials at the churches say, keep growing.

About 6:30 p.m. yesterday, Kekuna stood in the middle of a circle of homeless at the church to announce that the shelter and food service would continue through Saturday. Many cheered and yelled out their thanks, but Kekuna stressed that the fix was just a temporary one and asked the homeless to seek out help from social service providers.

"Our staff here is very tired. They're pretty much wiped out," he said. "I can't ask my staff to burn themselves out."

Other churches and groups from around the island have donated food to feed the homeless, but it still needs to be prepared and usually supplemented with greens, fruits or breads.

Central Union volunteer coordinator Nancy Hammond said the church would continue its services through the end of the month. It also has plans to put together a "transition fair" for the homeless, which would feature health-care, housing and other providers.

"We feel that we're at capacity," she said, adding that the church has been "really blessed" with food donations. "It's just been wonderful."

Leinati Matutia, leader of Ohana O Hawaii, a group made up of those staying at the church, said homeless at Kawaiahao don't know what they'll do once the church asks them to leave.

They have formed a council to discuss possible options and have asked for a meeting with the mayor. Members of the organization also talked to the Housing and Community Development Corporation of Hawaii board last week. Officials there say there's little that can be done for the Kawaiahao homeless with 15,000 on a waiting list to get into public housing.

But Matutia and others at the church say the city and state need to do something for the homeless while lawmakers work to increase the inventory of affordable housing units. They want officials to give them space in a warehouse or a section in a park, and say they'd waive any liability.

"We know we're not going to get housing tomorrow," Matutia said, as she ate spaghetti, a salad and a roll prepared at the church yesterday. "Until then, give us a portion of a park."

Kekuna added that churches cannot shoulder the load of providing for the homeless by themselves. "We are encouraging the social agencies to step in," he said, adding that the church has never been in such a situation.

Meanwhile, he added, housing and feeding the homeless has brought vitality to the church, and has helped him and others better understand how people fall into hard times. "God did not send the homeless here so we will help them, God sent the homeless here so they could bless us," he said.

Julio Vasquez, a nurse's aide, sat eating his meal last night in a courtyard at the church. He said he is grateful for Kawaiahao's help over the last weeks, which has allowed him to remain presentable for work.

He also said the way the homeless have organized themselves, picketing in front of city hall and holding meetings to discuss the future, has given him hope and courage. On top of his job, he said, he holds a sign in front of Honolulu Hale daily and is working to get into an apartment.

"This place has been an excellent springboard," he said.