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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, June 27, 2009

Homeless campers cleared out near Kahului Airport


By MELISSA TANJI
The Maui News

KAHULUI, Maui — No major problems were reported Friday as state officials made sure illegal campers heeded an eviction notice to vacate state property around the Kahului Airport.

The campers were to vacate the property by Friday or face criminal trespassing charges. The state worked to clear the area near the Spreckelsville end of the airport runway because homeless camps were jeopardizing health and safety in the area, state officials said.
Kahului Airport Manager Marvin Moniz said there was one homeless camp remaining Friday, but no one was cited because the camp was being taken down. State airport officials, Department of Land and Natural Resources personnel and personnel from the airport's private security firm, Securitas, surveyed the state property Friday morning.
State sheriffs also stopped by during the inspection. The Maui Police Department was also on notice for assistance, but officers were not called, Moniz said.
He attributed the peaceful eviction process to the state giving the campers more than several weeks' notice to leave the area. Flyers distributed to the campers included information about agencies available to help them and their pets.
In April, state officials said the evictions had to be done because 40 to 50 illegal campsites were as close as 150 feet from the airport runway's fence line. Some camps had hazardous materials such as propane tanks and car batteries. Campers set up tents and tarps, and some people also lived in old military bunkers in the area.
Moniz said the next step is to clean up the 2.5 acres between the northwest end of Kanaha Beach Park and Stable Road.
He said cleanup work could start as early as Monday or Tuesday. It is expected to continue for about a month.
The airport's grounds crew will conduct the cleanup, Moniz said.