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Hawaii News

Crews enforce rules affecting homeless in city, Waimanalo

CRAIG T. KOJIMA / MARCH 2016

Homeless on state land on Ala Moana Blvd and Cooke Street in Kakaako.

City cleanup crews Friday enforced the city’s separate sidewalk nuisance and stored-property ordinances in several areas, from Waimanalo to the persistent homeless encampments in Kakaako.

A special crew tasked with enforcing the ordinances targeted Waimanalo Beach Park, Kaiona Beach Park, Waimanalo District Park and Waimanalo Bay Park from 1 to 5 a.m., followed by Kakaako, Ala Moana Park, Ala Wai Promenade, Thomas Square and the Kapahulu Bike Trail from 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

The work in Kakaako has continued since the city spent six weeks clearing out a homeless encampment around the University of Hawaii’s medical school and the Hawaii Children’s Discovery Center. The city has jurisdiction over the streets and sidewalks in the area; the Hawaii Community Development Authority has jurisdiction over Kakaako Waterfront Park, Kakaako Makai Gateway Park and other adjacent parks.

In an email statement, city spokesman Jesse Broder Van Dyke said, “The city has been enforcing on Kakaako sidewalks consistently since last fall’s coordinated action. There has been no break. The city sidewalks remain mostly clear.

“The encampments that now exist are almost entirely on state park land in Kakaako where the city does not have jurisdiction, such as the stretch of Ala Moana (Boulevard) between Ohe and Cooke streets that is part of ­HCDA’s Kakaako Mauka Gateway Park. We hope that better coordination will lead to better results.”

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