Aloha Homeless!

I recently enjoyed a month on the beaches of Oahu, Hawaii — and the use of a house a block away. Not everyone, even in the "paradise" that is Hawaii, is so fortunate when it comes to the housing part. In fact, there has been a growing "homeless problem" in a number of locations on several of the islands that make up the state.

If I'd waited, I may have also enjoyed a free, state-provided flight back to the mainland, as well. And this is where those without housing might soon have that "benefit." But is that a benefit, and for whom, really?

Reports are circulating about Hawaii, and the island of Oahu in particular (where the city of Honolulu and its major airport is located), considering a program to offer homeless people a one-time, one-way airfare voucher to Get Out of Dodge ... er, "Palekaiko" ("Paradise," in the Hawaiian language).

This isn't a new idea, of course. For instance, cities such as San Francisco and its "Homeward Bound" program have long had similar options in place, providing one-time, one-way bus tickets to homeless or other indigent persons. This may be considered importantly helpful for those that are stuck and have family or friends elsewhere ready to take them in, but lacking the means to travel. Or it could be seen as a more callous way to simply rid the area of persons whose problems and needs cannot or will not be fundamentally solved there, by merely sending them elsewhere.

Proponents of the Hawaiian version claim that the higher cost of airfare, as compared to typical bus fare, still is dramatically less than an average annual cost of services for those that remain, estimated at upwards of $30,000 per person. Yet other considerations challenge a simplistic cost-based evaluation.

For example, some believe that this could just as easily encourage and increase homelessness if more people scrounge up the one-way airfare to go to Hawaii, knowing they'd have a guaranteed, free way back out if and when they wanted. The state has also offered free tents, as another way to at least prod homeless people away from the cities and tourist attractions.

Ironically, New York has also offered free flights, rather than bus tickets, to get people to leave the city — and so some people have flown ... to Hawaii!

But before I risk planting any ideas in your mind, let me fill you in on some other, further details. Yes, there are quite some number of people living in camps on Hawaiian beaches, with major numbers on "the big island" (Hawaii) and Oahu. Yes, many of these locations rival, or even outdo, resort beaches (depending on if you favor rural or natural primitive settings). But many people don't realize just how often it rains in Hawaii — daily/nightly and pretty frequently in some places. Nor how hard. And despite the absence of snakes, there are often quite a few bothersome or seriously poisonous bugs, spiders, scorpions, etc.

Also, the areas most allowing of homeless or other non-paid campers tend to be relegated to these more remote or inconvenient places. You might have visions of luscious tropical fruits around for only the plucking. This is just not the case, by and large, and what might be found isn't always ripe, even if the birds and animals don't beat you to it. So to be camped in remote spots means traveling quite some ways for food, if you're not good at fishing/diving or tire of that too often. And, despite the famed clear, warm surf waters, there may not be any handy fresh water for quite a ways. Not to mention all the other necessities of life.

While I was there, I heard a number of media reports and social conversations mentioning both Hawaii's "growing homeless problem" and concerns about the simultaneous lessening of resources for that purpose with increasing numbers of homeless people competing for what remains. Food stamp applications were taking up to a month or more to be granted, for example.

The fact is, a homeless life is hard, even in paradise. Flying or busing people back and forth doesn't usually actually solve much for many, but costs taxpayers all the while.

Photo credit: SlumJack