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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, January 12, 2008

Cleanup at Hawaii park will oust homeless

Advertiser Staff

A major beach park cleanup that's expected to evict dozens of homeless campers on the Leeward Coast will take place Feb. 11 to 15, officials announced yesterday.

Mayor Mufi Hannemann had unveiled the plans in December without specifying a date.

The Nani Kai section of Ulehawa Beach Park was initially targeted, and the Surfer's Beach section has now been added.

The city will close both sections at 10 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 10, city parks director Les Chang said yesterday. They will be reopened after 3 p.m. Feb. 15, but no camping will be allowed.

The closure will allow parks workers to complete extensive repairs and maintenance, Chang said.

Hannemann has pledged to have outreach workers notify homeless campers before the closures and assist them with alternatives.

After the cleanup, the park will be closed regularly at night between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., Chang said.

The repairs will include a thorough cleaning of the comfort station and replacement of bathroom fixtures where needed, Chang said.

Picnic tables, benches and irrigation systems will also be repaired, and the parking lot will be swept and restriped. Parking lot curbs, picnic tables and comfort stations will also be painted, and landscaping improvements are also planned.

The city launched a similar effort at Ma'ili Beach Park nine months ago, after the state opened a large new shelter in Wai'anae.

"We will continue to count on the state government's lead in providing shelter space and services to meet the needs of the homeless people who are illegally camping in beach parks," Chang said.

"We're putting the word out well in advance to give our homeless service providers and park-users enough time to make alternative plans," he said.