My Dream for the House-less

The Honolulu County Council earlier in 2014 approved $47 million for low cost housing to help the island's war against the homeless. While it is one step in addressing an ever growing problem it still falls short of fixing the cause at the source. Emphasis has been made for years on the need to get a good education, a good job and be able to be a contributing member of society. However, what about those who cannot for one reason or another conform to those standards? Those for a myriad of reasons fall through the cracks of society and end up with bottom paying jobs and unable to afford the simple, basic necessities of life? What options are made for these people so that instead of being a money pit on government funding, have the ability to live simple and humble lives by being given the tools necessary to exist? There are many who have not chosen to be in their situation but through some chain of unfortunate events been cast into it.

Some years ago I met this man named Mike. A part-Hawaiian man with kids who had lost his wife through illness. Healthcare cost on top of having to be there for his children took a toll on him physically, mentally, emotionally and financially. He lost his job on Maui and was promised a job on Kauai. He sold all that he could and flew his family over to Kauai, bought an SUV and had enough money for rental of an apartment. Not long after he started the job, the business that he was working for went bankrupt and shut down. He tried looking for other jobs but was unable to find it and eventually he and his family had to move out of the apartment and lived on the beach. Months went by and his search for a job was fruitless. Money he had was gone and if not for the kindness of a sovereignty group camping nearby who took it upon themselves to feed the homeless in the area, his kids would not have been able to have decent meals. Newly made friends eventually took in his kids as he went back to Maui and eventually got a job. Soon thereafter he was able to bring his kids home and though it has been almost ten years he once again became a contributing member of society.

In this case, this Hawaiian sovereignty group who many mocked and scorned had enough traditional values and compassion to take in many of the homeless in the area. They all contributed in one way or another whether it was to clean, cook or gather food from the nearby sea. They had responsibilities that would keep them in the good grace of the village setting that instilled in them a sense of belonging. Sure there were people who were drug or alcohol dependent, but rules were put in place that would put their acceptance in jeopardy. People were accepted, rejected, counseled and warned. A few were also banned for non-compliance but this had to be done to promote some level of order. It was a safe haven for many and it didn't matter how young or old you were, what your racial makeup was, or even if you were new to the island or not. The main thing was that you were expected to follow basic rules in order to enjoy a seat (or bed) within their compound. It would have lasted a lot longer if not for Kauai's laws and regulations. It was within a county park to be fair, but what it showed, was the ability for people to come together and care for each other responsibly in a village setting. A community within a community. It proved that it is possible for people to take care of themselves without the governments "handouts" through welfare or any other governmental programs. It cost the government nothing for them to exist. They even cleaned and provided restroom supplies and saved the county money!!! Just imagine how doable this would be on a larger scale in every ahupua'a. Just imagine how far that $47 million would go if you let people take care of each other without governmental regulations or restrictive laws.

This is where my dream for some of the house-less begins. I believe that we need to have a pu'uhonua for people... Villages set up where some people can go for temporary housing in a cooperative sustenance setting. They can live in the village as long as rules are followed and they contribute to the community in some capacity. Whether it is farming, building, repairing, etc... They also need to go through counseling/rehabilitation and a training/educational program to get them mainstreamed into society. After years of indoctrination through inculcation of Hawaiians, a reintroduction to cultural values and mores to boost their self identity is also in order. I may be way off base here but that one example above have proved to me that it is a possibility and should seriously be considered.

As mentioned earlier, this was the dream for "some" of the house-less. You can't fix anything that doesn't want to be fixed. There are always exceptions to the rule. People make choices that are self-destructive. Some have mental issues, substance abuse issues and others just choose to find their own sense of normalcy. There is no "cure-all" solution, but there needs to be options available to those in search of a way out. A way that is more nurturing and natural as opposed to stringent governmental programs with poor oversight. The oversight in a village setting is that everyone is the eyes, ears and voice of the community to keep things in order that would jeopardize their ability to remain a member of it.

We have productive lands available and the only thing that stands in the way are some of the laws and regulations. If politicians want to help society, our communities, the economy and the many other issues that they face today then they have to take a look at fixing the root of our problems with a proactive and not a reactive approach. Personally, before we can think about fixing the economy of our island, we need to look at the causes and the reason for the holes in local governmental budget that keeps draining it. Band-aid fixes isn't a solution, cures are. I've offered it in the past and I offer it now. Anyone willing to sit down and talk stories, contact me and we can look at the possible processes and obstacles of such a concept. If we don't find a starting point, we will never see the end.