In this last month, I have personally experienced some events that have clarified that my rights and the rights of Maui citizens are being adversely affected by a few people who are making a choice to live a homeless lifestyle.

I am and will continue to be an advocate for those who are affected and victimized by homelessness; but with that being said, I need to articulate that even though I am an advocate for the homeless, I am not a proponent for those who have decided that they want to live the homeless lifestyle and will not accept available housing services.

I work in the nonprofit world, as most people know. But I am also in the local business world. Just to make it clear, what I’m writing about in this particular column is my personal opinion as a local business owner and not the opinion of the Maui Homeless Alliance, which I am also affiliated with.

My family has a long history on Maui, one that goes back to early Puunene plantation days. Like most local families, we care a great deal about the welfare of our community as is shown through the founding of Feed My Sheep in 1999 and through the generosity of our 40-year-old family business, Hawaiian Carpet One, and Ceramic Tile. In recent days, both of these establishments have been adversely affected by the homeless dilemma that Maui is currently facing.

Recently, Alexander & Baldwin provided farmland that includes warehouse and office space to Feed My Sheep. As we are excitedly working to update and make needed repairs to the buildings and the land, we discovered, hidden in the trees, a tent where squatters were living.

Our first action was to call the Maui County, Housing and Human Concerns Homelessness Department, who immediately called case managers from Family Life Center to go to the property to offer housing services. The caseworkers came quickly and were anxious to offer help. When they arrived, they realized that they already knew these people by name and for the umpteenth time kindly offered help finding a home, which was promptly refused as it had been so many times before.

Our next move was to call the Maui Police Department, who sent the Maui community police officers. These officers were extremely compassionate and professional as they talked to the trespassers and they were able to convince them to leave without incident, but when housing services were brought up they were again refused.

Now about the experience of our family business on Alamaha Street. Alamaha is in the Kahului industrial area. This is an area where many small, local businesses are located. On this street, a group of homeless decided to set up residence and live in their cars — all of whom had been repeatedly offered services.

The occupants of two of these vehicles would unashamedly and openly participate in drug activity while creating a pile of rubbish on the street and sidewalk right outside our family businesses’s front door! It was not only unsightly, but the smells were unbearable.

Customers were justifiably frightened and the business was adversely affected. MPD was called but because this was on public land and not private property, it was a much longer, difficult process to resolve. As explained to me by the community police officers, it is easier to resolve a trespassing issue on private land but when it comes to roads, sidewalks and public land, there are not enough clear legal lines for the police to follow. This is where changes need to be made.

On Oahu, laws have been created because of problems such as this. Read more at www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/36185139/full-list-sit-lie-ban-extended-to-15-other-oahu-communities/.

These laws not only protect businesses and the community, but they have also resulted in more people seeking shelter.

Yes, the homeless have rights and we need to continue to work on finding solutions through “Housing First,” but with that being said, those who are refusing services are encroaching on the rights of the rest of us and need to be held accountable for their actions.

A perpetual line needs to be drawn, the line being, if you want help, there is help available and the Maui Homeless Alliance agencies will do everything we can to help you find that help. But if you refuse help, you are on your own and need to obey the law and be respectful of others, just like the rest of us!

It is not and should never be illegal to be homeless and we need to help those who are. But bad behavior and impeding on the rights of others is not OK, and those who choose to do so need to be held accountable.

At one time, Maui County Council members were working on laws similar to those created on Oahu. It is my opinion that the council should revisit this and follow Oahu’s example so that Maui can be a safe place where everyone can thrive and do business as we continue to seek solutions to homelessness.

* Joyce Kawakami is a full-time volunteer, founder and CEO of Feed My Sheep Inc. As an active member of the Maui Homeless Alliance, she chairs the Awareness Committee. The alliance meets on the third Wednesday of each month at Maui Economic Opportunity in Wailuku. To participate, call (808) 242-4900.