City wisely avoids conflict with homeless at beaches

THE ISSUE The city has begun cleaning Waianae Coast beaches where inhabited by the homeless.

THE city appears to have averted a nasty confrontation with homeless people living on Waianae Coast beaches by backing off from their eviction during extensive maintenance work that began this week. Mayor Hannemann says he has been working with the state to make sure the homeless will be sheltered elsewhere, if need be, during the work.

Hannemann and Governor Lingle were at odds over the handling of the closure and cleanup of Ala Moana Beach Park earlier this year, which displaced about 200 homeless people who had been sleeping there. Lingle set up a transitional shelter for them in Kakaako and said the city administration had displayed "no compassion whatsoever."

In June, as Lingle said she expected the state could set up "substantial emergency shelters" along the Leeward Coast by the end of this year, Hannemann announced that three of the coast's beach parks would be closed in September for renovation. Goaded into discussing the situation, they met and agreed to coordinate their efforts.

The city began its maintenance work this week at Tracks Beach, across from the Kahe Power Plant near Nanakuli, where 60 people have been living in tents. "If they are in affected areas, we are asking them to voluntarily move," said Les Chang, director of the Department of Parks and Recreation.

Chang acknowledged that some homeless people were displaced. Dexter Liu, manager of the Leeward District Park, said that Hannemann and Lingle "are working together to find temporary housing for them."

Hannemann said in July that Maili, Nanakuli and Keaau beach parks would be closed at night in September for renovation. Those plans seem to have been revised to allow flexibility. For example, the southern part of Maili Beach Park will be closed at night for five days next week, and the northern part of the beach will be closed at night from Sept. 17-22. Part of Nanakuli Beach Park will be closed for a period in November or December to begin construction of a canoe school.

That should not mean that Hannemann is retreating from his desire in June "to get back to what taxpayers would like to see with their dollars, that our parks should be available for everyone and not just for one segment of the community."

The presence of hundreds of homeless living in tents on beaches is intimidating to families who enjoy going to the beach, and that needs to change. However, as the mayor said this week, "There's a balance between making sure the homeless have a place to go and families that want to come back."