When police start enforcing a ban on camping tents and shopping carts in city parks as early as today, some of the homeless who live in Kapiolani Park say they will sit back and watch—under large umbrellas or other legal shelter.

A man with a long white beard, who identified himself as Daniel and goes by the nickname Banyan, sat in a fold-up chair under a large umbrella yesterday afternoon talking with friends.

“;I'm going to sit here and watch them enforce it,”; Daniel said. “;This is a collapsible structure,”; he said referring to his large umbrella, “;but it's not a tent.”;

“;Where they like us move?”; asked Brady Mahiko, a friend who also lives in the park.

  Tent, cart ban may not move homeless campers

 

Homeless campers at Kapiolani Park are preparing to comply with new bans on tents and shopping carts. But the ban may not accomplish what lawmakers had intended.

 

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For the last two weeks the city has posted notices at the park and on tents used by the homeless informing them of the new law and where they can go to seek legal shelter.

The City Council passed the law banning shopping carts and camping tents with more than one wall in March. It became effective when Mayor Mufi Hannemann signed it a few weeks ago.

Honolulu Police spokeswoman Carolyn Sluyter said police have been working with city officials and social service providers to get information about the law out to park users.

“;The law applies to all park-goers, and we are hopeful that most will voluntarily comply with the new law,”; Sluyter said. “;Enforcement will be conducted at parks throughout the island and may take the form of a warning, citation or possibly arrest.”;

Many of the homeless at Queen's Beach yesterday said they would comply with the law and remove the tents but will continue living in the park.

Jason Sampson said he and his wife have nowhere else to live after he lost his job as a car detailer eight months ago.

“;We just obey the rules,”; Sampson said.

His wife, who gave her name as D, said the homeless shelter has bedbugs, and she does not like the rules, which require them to leave at 7 a.m. and be in by 10 p.m.

D Sampson said she and her husband have applied for veterans' assistance but cannot find a place to live that they can afford.

Roy Goya said he got mental health assistance to find housing but still visits with friends in the park.

The law “;is kind of targeting the homeless,”; he said, adding that police will have to enforce the law for families enjoying the park on holiday weekends.

“;It should be fair,”; Goya said.

Chuck Mailo said he does not sleep in a tent, but still finds places to stay in the park.

“;I just sleep where they can't see me or walk around at night,”; he said.

A man who identified himself as Slein Kein said he climbs through kiawe trees to sleep in a cave on the side of Diamond Head.

“;To me they just try to sweep everything under the rug, like we're not people,”; James Sampson said. “;It seems they cater to the tourists more than anything.”;