County officials are passing out notices that homeless people and illegal campers will be evicted from county parks across the island by Sunday, Nov. 16. Homeless residents are known to be camping at Ha‘ena Beach Park, Anini Beach Park, Salt
County officials are passing out notices that homeless people and illegal campers will be evicted from county parks across the island by Sunday, Nov. 16.
Homeless residents are known to be camping at Ha‘ena Beach Park, Anini Beach Park, Salt Pond Beach Park and Hanama‘ulu Beach Park.
In addition, homeless and illegal campers are known to be on private land along the Eastside of Kaua‘i, in Kalalau Valley and other areas of Na Pali and at isolated beaches on the North Shore and other areas.
The mayor has been holding meetings with state agencies, churches and social service organizations to set up a system to help evicted campers who don’t have a place to go.
“We want to be fair and humane with this process,” said Mayor Bryan Baptiste.
Baptiste said the county is removing non-permitted campers and the homeless to return the parks back to the public recreational uses they were created for.
The evictions were necessary to restore parks to public recreational use, Baptiste said.
Numerous incidents of harassment and illegal activity including possible drug use at night at county beach parks have been reported.
No official count of the number of homeless living in county beach parks is available.
Over two dozen homeless people living at Hanama‘ulu Beach Park are long-time Kaua‘i residents, according to a report from the county. Newcomers to the island appear to be attracted to beach parks on the North Shore and other areas away from Lihu‘e.
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