I am opposed to tent cities without clear guidelines and accountability to participate in social programs, chores and assessments in progress.
It has been said by many that those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. So I want to remind readers of a little downtown Honolulu history.
In 1993 I was a Honolulu Police Department (HPD) detective. Detectives John Lim, Kyle Luke (now deceased) and I were assigned a series of interrelated violent crimes that The Honolulu Advertiser labeled the “WILDING.”
Several months prior, Aala Park had been outfitted with what could be described as temporary encampments. There was a row of huts for families and individuals to live in. Aala Park was utilized because of its central location, access to transportation and social services. It had bathrooms readily available and daytime staff assigned to oversee the location.
The night of the “wilding,” the group of male suspects had been drinking in Aala Park. They ran out of alcohol and went to a nearby liquor store on Hotel Street. They had no money, so they robbed the store and then kept going, yelling and taunting people on the street.
At the bus stop in front of 1111 Alakea St., a young male medical student was waiting for a ride.
Suspect Michael Rosado approached him to rob him and instead stabbed him over a dozen times with a knife he had tied to his hand, leaving the victim bleeding.
Suspects then robbed a female Honolulu Advertiser editor as she walked home after work on Beretania Street near Richards Street. An attorney driving by intervened as the men attacked her and the group ran off with her briefcase.
A male waiter riding his bicycle home after work witnessed that robbery and the suspects running. He gave chase and was assaulted as the suspects fled, and left him on Kukui Street-Nuuanu Avenue.
Over the next few days, all of the male suspects were identified, search warrants were executed, weapons and evidence were recovered and multiple arrests were made. Rosado ultimately was convicted of attempted murder and sentenced to life with the possibility of parole.
The male suspects were healthy, young adults, unemployed, using substances and had previous experience — some extensive — with the judicial system, most as juveniles as well as adults.
How will creating temporary living areas or new “tent cities” avoid a similar situation that occurred at Aala Park?
Housing is critical for providing for people’s basic needs, along with food, water and clothing. Along with this, safety must be provided so that people are able to have orderly lives without fear. Any temporary encampment that does not provide a framework of order, lawfulness and accountability is doomed to repeat the very same recipe as the “wilding” did over 20 years ago.
Some positive models:
>> Windward Family First has been operating for 10 years and assisted 259 families in moving from the streets to sustainable housing; over 80 percent of the families remain in housing after a year.
Several Windward churches serve as hostels for families for a week. Each participating church provides breakfast, food to make lunches and a hot evening meal as well as access to clean bathing facilities.
The participants are able to save their money to get into rentals.
Families are counseled during the day with help in finances, budgeting, counseling for abuse, jobs and childcare assistance.
This sort of combined effort, services provided and accountability is most promising for long-term change and health.
