Homelessness

As displaced individuals are pushed out of Waikiki and urban Honolulu, growing homeless encampments in Kapahulu, Kaimuki, and Diamond Head have become regular sights to see. As a result, our schools, local businesses, and residential parks have struggled to maintain our public spaces for the use of all. While the State continues to provide social and safety-net services for those experiencing or in danger of falling into homelessness, many individuals with behavioral, mental health, or both of these diagnoses are the ones we cannot get off our streets. 

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I have heard the frustration from our community as well as in my work on the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation Board and in the Mayor’s Office. I believe we can make impactful movement on homelessness through investment in: 

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• Creation of a real continuum of care system for those suffering from mental health and substance abuse diagnoses to keep them from cycling back onto our streets without adequate support 

• Adjusting our Assisted Community Treatment laws so that the appropriate court orders can be used to help assess and medicate those who are so impacted that they cannot make sound decisions for themselves to receive help. 

 

Monster Homes

Over the last decade, the rise of “monster homes” has drastically transformed the character and feel of our neighborhoods for the worse. We’ve seen longtime single-family homes bought up, demolished, and replaced with sprawling dwellings that are rented out to two, three, or four sets of families – over- stressing our public infrastructure and packing our streets with additional cars. This is not the way to create housing for our residents and not the change I want to see in our residential neighborhoods.

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As I go door-to-door meeting neighbors, it shocks me to see how different some streets look from the ones I grew up on. I am committed to: 

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• Oversight of existing “monster homes” to prevent illegal modifications like renovations that would convert wet bars into kitchens or ensuring the legally allowed number of people per dwelling is maintained; 

• Monitoring legislation that could further exasperate the overcrowding of our neighborhoods.