2 days Ago By Marc Suzuki
The clear-out of Diamond Head encampments continues this week as Hawaii's Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) and the Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) teamed up to remove illegal camps from one of Oahu's notable landmarks. Per the recent release from DLNR, the operation managed to sweep away 45 encampments from the area—a quarterly effort meant to keep the state lands under control. Though the cleanup is regular, this doesn't seem to permanently halt the return of unlawful settlers to the scenic slopes of Diamond Head.
Today's action saw the citation of three individuals for trespassing in a closed area. DLNR's homelessness coordinator works in tandem with Honolulu's city and county services to not just remove but to also guide people towards assistance programs and temporary housing—though these resources are critically thin on the ground. "Entry into closed areas on Diamond Head is difficult to enforce without circling the entire crater with an impenetrable barrier," DOCARE Chief Jason Redulla told DLNR.
The mountain's geography presents enforcement challenges with myriad routes for people to secretly utilize.The issue isn't simply about removing the campsites, but also about the welfare of the occupants who are frequently without a place to go. "There is also a severe lack of beds on O‘ahu for people needing mental health services or addiction treatment," expressed Pua Aiu, DLNR's homelessness coordinator, in the department's statement.
The friction between maintaining the integrity of state parks and addressing the humanitarian concerns of homelessness and addiction is palpable and yet unresolved.In discussing the dangers of the camps, beyond the human aspect, officials raise alarms over unsanitary conditions and the risk of wildfires. According to the DLNR statement, safety protocols prevent crews from removing soiled items including buckets that are believed to potentially contaminate the ocean with waste during rainfall.
Acknowledging the community's concerns, the DSP has recently signed to swiftly begin work with the Hawai‘i Wildfire Management Organization (HWMO) on a wildfire mitigation strategy.The repeated clearing operations spotlight the ongoing struggle with homelessness in Hawaii and the complex struggle state departments face. Without a decisive combination of community backing, political determination, and substantial funding for more sustainable solutions, Redulla admits, "We wish we could say there is an easy or ready solution, and unfortunately, that’s not the case.
" While additional patrols by Honolulu Police and the Hawai‘i Department of Law Enforcement (DLE) are being mobilized to prevent immediate reoccupation, the issue remains symptomatic of a larger societal challenge, as reported by the DLNR..
