HONU program provides 'safety zone' for Hawaiʻi's houseless
Jan 05, 2025
KAPOLEI, Hawaiʻi (KHON2) -- Nearly 200 of Hawaiʻi's houseless individuals have found a new beginning through the City's Homeless Outreach and Navigation for Unshelted Persons program.
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In October 2024, the City and County of Honolulu announced the HONU program was moved from Neal S. Blaisdell Park to the "Musubi Lot" in Kapolei across from Kapolei Hale.
Since the move, the shelter has made tremendous strides in helping 195 clients.
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Officials said out of the 195 clients, 20 have been reunited with family, eight have moved into more permanent housing, two have moved into transitional housing and 74 have found a shelter bed.
Among those people are Amie Kama and Tearo Navarro, who have been sober for more than three months.
"Helped us get things that we needed like treatment, drug treatment, and we're sober now and just trying to do the right thing. HONU helped us a lot, stay out of trouble. It's like our safety zone," said Kama, HONU client.
The City added that HONU provides more than housing. The program also provides Social Services until access to housing or treatment options is available. Each client is also given a case manager.
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It can be found mainly in city parks between 90 and 120 days. The shelter is open 24 hours, seven days a week.
More information on the program can be found on the City and County's website.