Hawai‘i County moves former canal residents to new short-term shelter

Residents of the Ponahawai Temporary Respite Area on Wednesday morning relocated to a newly established short-term shelter on Kuawa Street, near the Hoʻolulu Complex in Hilo.

The move was coordinated by the county of Hawaiʻi, Hope Services Hawai‘i, Project Vision Hawaiʻi, the Neighborhood Place of Puna, Going Home Hawaiʻi and the Salvation Army Hawaiʻi, who assisted 15 residents in moving themselves, their belongings and their pets to the new location.

The Ponahawai site has since been restored to its original condition and is once again serving as an extension of the Wailoa Soccer Fields under the management of the Department of Parks and Recreation.

The new short-term shelter is currently dedicated to serving the former canal residents, with the ongoing goal of connecting these individuals to permanent housing opportunities and other essential services.

The temporary respite area was initially established on July 5 to accommodate several dozen unsheltered individuals who had been residing in and around a storm drain in Downtown Hilo. This measure was taken in preparation for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ scheduled assessments of the drainage system.

The Kuawa Street site will continue to offer netted Quickshades for residents to store their belongings and receive essential services. As each person transitions to permanent or emergency housing, their space at the short-term shelter on Kuawa Street will be dismantled and removed.

Security measures will remain in place to monitor the area and ensure compliance with established rules and laws. Individuals who violate these rules will be removed from the site and subject to enforcement actions.

Looking ahead, the county of Hawaiʻi, in collaboration with The Salvation Army Hawaiian and Pacific Islands Division, is planning to open a new emergency overnight cot sleeping shelter for 25 individuals per evening in Downtown Hilo in late August.

Individuals experiencing homelessness who require access to community resources are encouraged to contact the Hawaiʻi County Homeless Engagement Hui by calling 808-501-1413, ext. 3.

The HCHE Hui is a pilot program, in partnership with the county of Hawaiʻi, that includes street outreach across Hawaiʻi Island to connect homeless individuals with community resources. Current HCHE Hui partner agencies include Neighborhood Place of Puna, HOPE Services Hawaiʻi, Project Vision Hawaiʻi and Going Home Hawaiʻi.