Hawaii County has created a temporary encampment to house homeless people in downtown Hilo.
While a more permanent shelter is scheduled to open next to the Salvation Army on Ponahawai Street in August, the county on Friday set up an array of tents on a lot just down the street.
The temporary shelter consists of 20 tents on a Ponahawai Street parcel, managed by the Department of Parks and Recreation, just makai of Kilauea Avenue.
According to a press release from the mayor’s office, the new site — referred to as a “temporary resting area” — was established in anticipation of an upcoming inspection of Hilo’s storm drain system by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
To facilitate that inspection, the “resting area” will house some of the homeless individuals occupying the storm drain.
“This temporary site is a critical measure to ensure the safety and well-being of our unsheltered community members,” said Mayor Mitch Roth in a statement. “We are committed to providing safe and reliable care while permanent housing options are being prepared.”
The location was chosen so that the homeless there can remain together in an effort to deter them from sleeping and camping in front of downtown businesses, according to the press release.
Parks and Rec Director Maurice Messina told the Tribune-Herald that all of the county’s rules and regulations regarding parks apply to the new encampment.
“Mayor Roth stressed to me that there will be zero tolerance for breaking of park rules and criminal activity,” Messina said. “I will personally be canvassing the area on a daily basis to ensure that the people sheltered in the area conform to our park rules standards, or they will be removed.”
Businesses owners along Ponahawai Street were cautious Friday about the new encampment.
Taylor Coons, owner of Nalu Builds Design Center, said she has had to call the police on multiple occasions in the past because of altercations between homeless people sheltering on the vacant lot, but was hopeful the additional supervision at the new encampment should at least reduce the number of disturbances.
“At least it’s nicer to look at,” Coons said, adding that the county likely wants to make the downtown area more presentable in advance of the International Va‘a Federation World Sprint Championship in August, when thousands of visitors will be in Hilo for the event.
Irene Agasa, co-owner of Agasa Furniture and Music Store, said she wasn’t worried about the presence of the shelter, but added that she and other businesses were given little notice about the county’s plans. She said county officials only reached out within the past week about the project.
The “relocation” is anticipated to last through August, as development of the longer-term shelter at Salvation Army continues.
The county Office of Housing and Community Development, the Department of Parks and Recreation and other nonprofit service providers, including Neighborhood Place of Puna, Project Vision and HOPE Services Hawaii, participated in the relocation efforts.
Once the shelter at Salvation Army is up and running, the site of the temporary shelter will be used for open space and parking, according to a statement by the housing office.
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Email Michael Brestovansky at mbrestovansky@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
