ASSOCIATION OF HAWAIIAN CIVIC CLUBS
A RESOLUTION
No. 2018 – 25
URGING THE STATE OF HAWAII OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR AND DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, AND THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU OFFICE OF HOUSING TO EXPEDITE ADEQUATE PLACEMENT FOR THE PEOPLE OF PU‘UHONUA O WAI‘ANAE’S HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT
WHEREAS, Pu‘uhonua O Wai‘anae is a “houseless” safe zone community that has served as a homeless encampment in Wai‘anae for over ten years for more than 260 people, and majority of the residents are of Native Hawaiian decent; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with Section 1, Act 212, Session Laws of Hawai‘i 2017, requires the Hawai‘i Interagency Council on Homelessness (HICH), in conjunction with and the Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), to establish a working group to examine the issue of safe zones for persons experiencing homelessness; and
WHEREAS, Pu‘uhonua O Wai‘anae has established its own 501(c)(3) organization, Dynamic Community Solutions, to help in soliciting services for funding and resources to facilitate helping all the families and individuals living within Pu‘uhonua O Wai‘anae to transition into shelters and low income housing, and employment; and
WHEREAS, on March 6, 2018, the Wai‘anae Neighborhood Board met with representatives from the Office of the Governor to address where a safe site may be available to relocate the people of the encampment; and
WHEREAS, on March 30, 2018, Governor David Ige met with leaders of Pu‘uhonua O Wai‘anae to find locations both the parties can agree to for safe and adequate placement of all the families and individuals living within the Pu‘uhonua O Wai‘anae encampment at the Wai‘anae Small Boat Harbor which is owned by the State of Hawai‘i and managed by the DLNR.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs at its 59th Annual Convention in Kalapaki, Kauaʻi, in the malama of Welehu and the rising of ʻOlepau, this 17th day of November 2018, urging the Office of the Governor, Department of Human Services, and the City and County of Honolulu Office of Housing to expedite adequate placement for the people of Pu‘uhonua O Wai‘anae homeless encampment; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable and safe location be found for the people of Pu‘uhonua O Wai‘anae within 180 days; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a certified copy of this resolution be transmitted to the State of Hawai‘i Department of Human Services, and the City and County of Honolulu Office of Housing, as well as the Governor of the State of Hawai‘i, President of the State Senate, Speaker of the State House of Representatives, Chair of the State Senate Committee on Hawaiian Affairs, Chair of the State House Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources & Hawaiian Affairs, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and all County Mayors.
The undersigned hereby certifies that the foregoing Resolution was duly adopted in the malama of Welehu and the rising of ‘Olepau on the 17th day of November 2018, at the 59th Annual Convention of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs in Kalapaki, Kaua‘i.
Annelle C. Amaral, President
