Posted on: Thursday, November 21, 2002

O'ahu marchers urge help for the homeless

By James Gonser
Advertiser Urban Honolulu Writer

About 250 people marched down Fort Street Mall to Beretania Street and on to the state Capitol yesterday in observance of Homeless Awareness Week in Hawai'i.

Homeless people, government workers, students and sympathetic residents wore purple T-shirts with a crayon logo of a home designed by a homeless child. They chanted "No more, no more homelessness" to the tune of "We will rock you" as they marched and waved at passing vehicles honking their horns in support.

"This is really exciting," said Lynn Maunakea, executive director of the Institute for Human Services homeless shelter. "A lot of people are here from all walks of life showing support. This is the third time we've held the event and it is growing bigger every year."

Homeless Week is planned to coincide with National Hunger and Homeless Week and is designed to highlight the situation and the effort to find a solution to the problem of homelessness in Hawai'i. A forum including lawmakers, government agencies and homeless service providers will be held tomorrow to discuss the state Homeless Policy Academy's plan to try to end homelessness here.

According to state figures, there are about 13,000 homeless people in Hawai'i, with more than 7,000 of them on O'ahu.

Kat Brady, assistant executive director of Life of the Land, said it is important for everyone to help end homelessness.

"I want to see everybody have food to eat and a place to live," said Brady. "I think Hawaiians being homeless in their homeland is outrageous."

Lani Correa, a 26-year-old woman who lives at Ohana Ola, a transitional family shelter in Wai'anae, attended the event with other residents who drove out from the Leeward Coast to show support.

"Hopefully this will help us," Correa said. "I'd like a home, too."