KAHULUI - Approximately 150 homeless people who have set up camps near the Paia end of the main Kahului Airport runway will be evicted from the state-owned land in the next couple of months, officials said Thursday.
Some of the 40 to 50 campsites are as close as 150 feet to the runway fence line. The campers have set up tarps, tents and furniture and have littered the area with trash and bottles, photos taken by state officials show. Some campsites have hazardous materials such as propane tanks and car batteries, and a few campers are living in old military bunkers.
Kahului Airport Manager Marvin Moniz said airport officials became aware of the homeless encampments when dogs from the area bit a child and then a teenager in separate incidents in October and December. Neither victim suffered serious injuries, he said.
Around 40 officials from government and nonprofit agencies attended a private meeting with state Department of Transportation officials Thursday morning to discuss the process of assisting the homeless campers as well as plans to clean up the 2.5 acres between the northwest end of Kanaha Beach Park and Stable Road. The state property includes wetland and forested areas along the shoreline.
"This is definitely not just a DOT problem, but a community issue that will affect every agency as well as the community. It was a very, very good meeting," said Tammy Mori, state Department of Transportation spokeswoman, after the discussions took place. "Everyone is willing to work together."
Agencies such as the Maui Humane Society and Maui Police Department also are involved, Mori said. Animal control officers are needed to address campers' pets, including about 60 cats at one campsite, she said.
During Thursday's meeting, Moniz outlined a four-phase plan dubbed "Operation Restore," Mori said.
In the first phase, campers will be told of state plans to clean the area and notified of the impending evictions at least a month in advance, she said.
"We want to give them plenty of time," said Mori, who added campers will receive information on where to find help after vacating the area where they are trespassing.
A date for evictions has not been set.
A second phase would be for follow-up to ensure everyone has complied with the order to leave. In the third phase, the area will be cleared of rubbish and hazardous materials left behind by campers.
In the last phase, according to Mori, the state will cut trees and brush that affect area visibility to make it easier for officials to monitor the activity there.
* Melissa Tanji can be reached at mtanji@mauinews.com.
