Solution to Homeless at Waikiki's Fort DeRussy Beach Sought

Last month, the Honolulu City Council approved several bills that would prevent people from sitting or lying on sidewalks in Waikiki and that would ban public urination and defecation. These new laws, coupled with existing park closures and no-camping polices were part of Mayor Kirk Caldwell's strategy of compassionate disruptions, which were meant to have the homeless population find help, government assistance and long term housing. However, many of the homeless found a loophole in the law and have simply moved themselves to Fort DeRussy Beach and made themselves at home.

The challenge stems from the fact that the Honolulu police department has no jurisdiction over Fort DeRussy Beach.  The stretch of beachfront that runs from the Hale Koa Hotel to the Outrigger Reef Hotel is under the jurisdiction of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.  Police Captain Lisa Mann, who is in charge of District 6 Waikiki, stated that the police have been getting complaints daily about the homeless who have taken over Fort DeRussy Beach.  Mann stated, "The area is under state jurisdiction and the district attorneys won't prosecute."

Mayor Kirk Caldwell's office has stated that they are in preliminary discussions with the DLNR about how to resolve the jurisdictional issues of Fort DeRussy, but it could take months since it would require approval from the state Board of Land and Nature Resources. Jesse Broder Van Dyke, Caldwell's spokesman, stated, "The mayor is definitely interested in this measure, but he wants to make it clear that it could only happen with the approval of DLNR."

Daniel Raffone, a new resident to Waikiki, stated, "Homeless people are everywhere. It's a huge contrast to Hilton Hawaiian Village and shops like Armani and Tiffany's. If this continues, the tourists will stop coming to Hawaii. They'll say, 'Hawaii was great and beautiful, but there were so many homeless people and drugs all over. We're going to take our $5,000 elsewhere.'"

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 10-3-2014, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Principal Broker, REALTOR®
Global Executive Realty, LLC
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