Maui County officials will be removing approximately 40 unhoused people from Amala Place in Kahului.

According to county officials, from 7 a.m. Thursday through 7 p.m. Friday, they plan to close Amala Place and Ka’a Street to clear out the area near Kanaha Beach Park. A notice given to camp residents warned that all campsites, personal property and vehicles must be removed or they would be impounded by the county and stored at a secured facility. Residents will have the opportunity to reclaim their property within 30 days. If they don’t, the items will be sold, donated or discarded.

The issue is a continuing struggle both for unhoused Maui residents and the county.

Maui County Director of Communications and Government Affairs Laksmi Abraham said the county is working to provide alternatives for those being displaced.

“Through county-funded programs, individuals at Amala Place have been consistently offered access to housing opportunities and critical health and human services,” she said. “These efforts have intensified in recent months through a focused effort between contracted service providers and grassroots advocates working directly with our unsheltered community.”

Laksmi said the long-term county goal is to address the root causes of homelessness, such as a lack of affordable housing, mental health challenges and substance use, so that fewer people fall into homelessness and those who do have clear pathways to stability.

Abraham said county-contracted organizations administer outreach programs that connect individuals with housing options and the support needed to work toward resolving their homelessness.

These include housing placement, sanitation services and referrals to mental health or substance use treatment for those who seek them. Assistance with obtaining benefits such as SNAP and Med-QUEST, along with access to basic needs resources, is also available. She acknowledged that not all people in need will avail themselves to the services that might help.

“While not all individuals are ready or willing to accept services, the county’s goal is to place anyone who is open to relocating and receiving support into appropriate housing options based on their circumstances,” she said. “We are also working to expand available sleeping and living space for houseless individuals in encampments along Amala Place and surrounding areas.”

She said the county remains committed to ensuring that public lands are safe, accessible and well-maintained for the entire community, while continuing to expand support for individuals experiencing homelessness.

Abraham said preventing the formation of unauthorized encampments requires a combination of proactive outreach, increased shelter and housing options, timely sanitation and maintenance, and consistent monitoring of public spaces.

Through county-funded outreach programs and partnerships with local nonprofits, the county works to connect individuals with housing opportunities and supportive services before encampments become entrenched.

To offer safer alternatives and reduce the need for encampments, the county is also pursuing the development of a Safe Parking Program, which would provide designated areas where individuals living in their vehicles can legally and safely park overnight, with access to sanitation and social services.