Whenever we reinforce the stereotype of "the homeless" as "the others" rather than as "our ohana" we demonize and criminalize poverty, mental illness and addiction.

The state and city are more concerned with "sweeping the problem under the rug" than with addressing the underlying issues that cause "homelessness'. The first step is understanding the issue and its root causes.

"homelessness" is not the issue. Its the symptom that is the result of the problems. The problems are a lack of "affordable housing" that is actually "affordable" and a lack of free lifelong, comprehensive care for mental illness and addiction.

The solutions are to simply provide these things freely and for all. As a westernized Hawaiian society we have had our core cultural principle of aloha co-opted as a tourism marketing slogan and replaced by the western capitalist principle of privatizing social services so that profit potential replaces our sense of humanity, unity, brotherhood and unconditional love.