When I first saw about 20 pop-up tents and a large welcoming Ohana (means family in Hawaiian) tent across from Whaler’s Village and Leilani’s restaurant on Kaanapali Beach, I thought gee, this must be an arts and crafts show.
That was until I read some of the signs and posters: Fishing for Housing, Sign our petition for dignified housing, Keep Lahaina Lands in Lahaina Hands, Lahaina Strong, Homes for the Holidays, You want Workers? We need Housing, All I want 4 Christmas is Long-Term Housing,” and many more.
Yesterday afternoon, following a tribal flow yoga class I walked over to the homeless encampment. I met a few of the volunteer staff and community organizers to try to get a better handle on what was going on. I was told they are staying on Kaanapali Beach, exercising their “Native Hawaiian rights” to fish 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They planted fishing poles in the sand and are calling their action “Fishing for Housing.”
I was allowed complete access to take photos and listened to a number of politicians and advocates speak as the crowds grew larger.
One of those speakers was Paele Kiakona, a former hospitality worker and advocacy and communications coordinator for Lahaina Strong, who said: He and the coalition of 28 grassroots organizations are urging Maui Mayor Richard Bissen and Hawaii Gov. Josh Green to provide dignified housing solutions like converting short-term rental properties into long-term rentals; extending protections for renters against rental increases and evictions for at least a least a year; pushing for immediate mortgage deferral for all homes completely lost in the fire, and back end mortgage abatement of all properties that are not engaged in short term rentals.
Kiakona introduced one of the other organizers, Courtney Lazo who lost the Lahaina home she and her family lived in for five generations. She spoke about the pain about being shuffled around from one short term rental to another. "How does one start to rebuild their life and create a sense of normalcy, if you can’t even unpack?"
She added, “I like that we’re down here at Kaanapali Beach, some of the most expensive real estate in the world to serve as a constant reminder for everyone—this is the reality that the community is facing and they can’t just sweep it under the rug and pretend it doesn’t exist.”
Postscript: I was encouraged by the person who coordinates all the media appearances that the funds that Cecile and I donated three non-profit organizations right after the Lahaina wildfire tragedy occurred, was very timely and helpful including Marriott Ocean Club which matched all donations made up to $250,000.
