Kama Holds Meeting to Discuss Unsheltered Homeless Impacts and Solutions

Kahului Council Member Tasha Kama held a community meeting tonight, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019 at the site of the old Kahului Safeway.  The solution-oriented gathering was organized to address the impacts that unsheltered homeless individuals have had on the surrounding business community.

Concerns surrounding the homeless presence off of East Kamehameha Avenue and Hoʻohana Street in Kahului were heightened following a fatal traffic accident on Sept. 11 and a shooting the following morning involving a homeless altercation at the site.

Area tenants and neighboring businesses that we spoke with last month say their concerns over personal safety escalated after a main tenant of the retail complex, Safeway, closed in July and relocated to a new site closer to the Kahului Airport.

Kama says she also hoped to identify a plan of action at tonight’s meeting.  The gathering was scheduled to run from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in the parking area.

Kama’s office is expected to release findings of today’s meeting following it’s conclusion.  We’ll bring you that information when it becomes available.

Old Kahului Safeway parking lot (9.12.19). PC: Wendy Osher