More on Homeless Native Hawaiians

[MarkD]

Thanks, Kapoho Joe,

The whole set of native Hawaiian issues is complicated, and any sympathy for them is hindered by their electing to try to block TMT. On Punatalk the issue of TMT/native Hawaiians seems super-charged; some folks see nothing but red. (I disagree with the blocking of TMT, though I know that does often show.)

I am sympathetic because I spent a lot of time on Oahu, seeing native Hawaiians camping everywhere. In parks, under freeway over passes, hidden camps on the slopes of Diamond Head, etc. (Yes, all the more cause for DHHL to get involved) They are being outcompeted in many respects on Oahu (maybe not so much over here).

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

I am sympathetic because I spent a lot of time on Oahu, seeing native Hawaiians camping everywhere.

Yes, when confronted with the problem first hand, it's difficult to turn away. I understand and can appreciate your sincere search for a possible answer to the situation.

In the past, a hundred years ago or so, there was no government response when a person went without food or shelter. They either moved in with family, or were left to fend for themselves, which probably didn't last long with no support. Families were also inclined to take in a grandparent or uncle because they would be frowned upon by the community if they didn't. I believe some Hawaiian families (and non-Hawaiian) still retain a strong bond with a willingness to help each other whenever possible.

But it is different now, and far more difficult to lend a helping hand. Room and board for a relative could still be provided at little cost, perhaps doubling or tripling up in a bedroom, or making space on a porch. But today, medical expenses can bankrupt anyone with a single, serious visit to the doctor and/or hospital. Families could potentially put themselves or their children at risk when caring for their own kin with medical issues.

The government doesn't want the responsibility either. So what we're left with is a complex, seemingly unsolvable situation. Sleeping outside, hunting for free food, begging for spare change, and Emergency Room visits as a preferred medical provider.

[Eric1600]

I am sympathetic because I spent a lot of time on Oahu, seeing native Hawaiians camping everywhere. In parks, under freeway over passes, hidden camps on the slopes of Diamond Head, etc. (Yes, all the more cause for DHHL to get involved) They are being outcompeted in many respects on Oahu (maybe not so much over here).

I lived on Oahu for 2 years right by Sand Island (lots of meth addicted homeless of all races) and passed Kakaako almost daily too. The link I shared earlier in this thread was a survey of the biggest encampment near Honolulu and was taken while I was there. Sure it's not every homeless person, but many of them are from the Pacific Islands.

http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/29049...a-migrants

The ones I talked with, often full families, were happy living on the beaches and had cleaner, better lives than they did in their home islands. Many were not literate and there was little chance of them being "competitive" in Honolulu's job market.

Don't try to sew all these threads of HHL, religious rights (keep in mind many anti-TMT people are not native Hawaiian), sovereignty, homelessness into one narrative because you'll just end up with knots.

[Tink]

Part of the problem I see is not only theDHHL not giving lands to the Hawaiian People's by route of a "waiting" list, but also having the stipulation of the HP's have to come up with the funding for a home built to the fullest standard of construction. With many on a limited to no income other than government support it is a no win situation for a Hawaiian.
Instead, with all the lease money generated from commercial ventures they should put in the infrastructure, give the land free and clear to be passed on to future generations of that Ohana, non sale able to another for "profit". Then, build efficiency dwelling units as per code with a fixed mortgage on a sliding scale based on the Ohanas income from maybe only a dollar a month to say 400 a month on a standard mortgage term instead of a 4 to 5 bedroom "standard" constructed home at 500k and up using the Homestead lands in Waimea as an example of construction type and price.

Community begins with Aloha

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

give the land free and clear to be passed on to future generations of that Ohana,
...
Then, build efficiency dwelling units as per code

As long as we're dreaming big:

* Set up a training program for Native Hawaiian carpenters, electricians, plumbers, drywallers, etc to build the homes
* When the population density reaches a point that it would support nearby retail shops, offer leases for small groceries, gas stations, etc. first to Native Hawaiian applicants, then if not possible, Hawaiian residents, with the stipulation that job openings should be filled by residents of the homelands.

[Tink]

I don't feel I'm dreaming big, I only feel it is a logical, workable solution. Habitat for a humanity is what you may be referring to and could use them or their "business model" to get a feel of "ownership". I mentioned the Efficiency Dwelling Unit to keep construction material costs at a minimum.

Community begins with Aloha

[randomq]

Tink, why are you saying that *many* native Hawaiians are low income or on government support? More so than everyone else here? Is that a fact?

[Wailua Boy]

INCOME AND POVERTY
AMONG NATIVE HAWAIIANS
Summary of Ka Huaka‘i Findings
Shawn Malia Kana‘iaupuni, PhD
Nolan J. Malone, PhD
Koren Ishibashi
September 2005
Publication 05-06:5
Copyright © by Kamehameha
Schools 2005. All rights reserved.
This publication is also available
online at www.ksbe.edu/pase.
Published by Policy Analysis &
System Evaluation (PASE)
567 South King Street, Suite 400
Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96813
Tel: (808) 541-5372
Recommended Citation:
Kana‘iaupuni, S. M., N. J. Malone,
and K. Ishibashi. 2005. Income and
poverty among Native Hawaiians:
Summary of Ka Huaka‘i findings.
Honolulu: Kamehameha Schools–
PASE, 05-06:5.
Purpose of Our Study
This brief gives a broad overview of income and poverty as
key measures of the material and economic well-being of
Native Hawaiian families. The contents are primarily from
Ka Huaka‘i: 2005 Native Hawaiian Educational Assessment.
What We Learned
• Native Hawaiian families in Hawai‘i have the lowest mean
family income of all major ethnic groups in the state.
• Native Hawaiian families tend to be larger than average,
meaning that their comparatively low income must
support a higher number of individuals.
• Per capita income calculations confirm that Native
Hawaiians are socioeconomically disadvantaged.
• The cost of living in the state of Hawai‘i is among the
highest in the United States.
• When we adjust for differences in the cost of living, the
median and per capita income of the national Native
Hawaiian population is substantially lower than
comparable national figures.
• Poverty rates consistently show the high socioeconomic
need among Native Hawaiians in the state of Hawai‘i.
Key Implications
• Promote postsecondary education.
• Expand employment options for Native Hawaiians.
• Develop the socioeconomic capacity of Native Hawaiians.
• Build on community strengths

[MarkD]

Question above: "why are you saying that *many* native Hawaiians are low income or on government support? More so than everyone else here?"

The stats on different ethnic groups are sometimes very clear. Comparison between native Hawaiians and both Caucasians and Japanese show the former are much more likely to be low income. A good word is disproportionate. So analyzing patterns of income levels, homelessness, confinement in OCCC, etc. will regularly show disproportionate distribution.

Further complicating things is that it seems that more "local people" (Hapa/mixed race*) are electing to call themselves Hawaiian (or native Hawaiian). (I am not disagreeing that they might have some % of Hawaiian blood.) And the data above that many Oahu homeless are Micronesian or Marshallese (COFA - Compact of Free Association folks) must also be acknowledged.

*(Aside from the indigenous native Hawaiians, the dominant groups arriving here in the past 200 years included Japanese, Filipino, Chinese, Portuguese, Koreans and Caucasians. Portuguese can be classified as haole but they are somewhat distinctive. It seems that most local folks who had/have negative views of caucasians/haoles generally excluded the Portuguese from this sentiment.)

Historically among certain groups, marriage outside one's group was rare. But interracial marriage has expanded everywhere in U.S. Upshot: We have many more hapa folks today in Hawaii.

(And of course in the past 60-plus years many other groups arrived: Hispanic, Thai, African American, COFAs, etc.)

A point was made about a month ago that we ought to get over all these racial/cultures perspectives. This thinking is appealing; idealistically it makes sense. But if we have social problems and analysis shows that group A or B is clearly disproportionately in condition X, then we cannot ignore those facts, IMO. Especially if the group is indigenous here, as native Hawaiians are, IMO.

[leilanidude]

Any group or ethnicity that as a general rule, does not value education is never going to pull themselves out of the lower income parts of the economy. Continually rewarding this behavior by giving away land, housing, food, etc., is not going to help either. It is sad that the day a kid turns 18 and is out school. they go apply for their EBT card. Yes, this really does happen. Its a "thing" and treated like a badge of honor.