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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Homeless setting up tents ordered to move out for Kapiolani Park cleaning

Advertiser Staff

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

A man moves his tent from the homeless encampment fronting the sidewalk at Kapiolani Park. The homeless were given notice today to move their tents so the city can clean the area.

DEBORAH BOOKER | The Honolulu Advertiser

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City crews have told as many as 40 homeless people who have set up tents on a narrow strip of land between the sidewalk at Kapiolani Park and the road that they will have to move by tomorrow.

The tents have been there for more than a month, and there has been some question whether the strip of land is considered part of the park — and therefore subject to park rules.
No illegal camping is allowed in the park, and no one is allowed in after 10 p.m.
The homeless in the area received leaflets yesterday that said the area would be cleared out tomorrow between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Yesterday, city Parks and Recreation Department Director Les Chang said that city crews will perform maintenance in the area where the tents are set up, “which will require people to move the tents.” He said grass will be cut and watered.
In the area today, there were about 20 tents set up, but many homeless were packing up and preparing to move on.
Police stopped by the area this morning to warn the homeless about the sweep.
They also arrested one man on an outstanding warrant.
Teddy Espinoza, 21, has a tent set up on the strip of land, and said that he doesn’t know where he’ll move next.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do if I can't come here,” he said.
Residents have increasingly raised concerns about the situation in the park, and have urged the city to tackle the problem.
Deborah Luckett, a member of the Diamond Head/Kapahulu/St. Louis Heights Neighborhood Board, said the place for the homeless is shelters — not the park.
“This is absurd that these people are there,” she said.