A Safer, More Compassionate Community: A Two-Year Plan to Address Houselessness & Public Safety in District 26 & the State

Across our State, we see the reality of crisis daily: families sleeping near streams, kūpuna navigating sidewalks in fear, and working residents who no longer feel safe walking in their neighborhoods. But safety and compassion must go hand in hand. Houselessness is not a moral failing or a crime; it’s a public health and housing crisis. For too long, our state has relied on short-term enforcement rather than long-term solutions.

The FACTS

We've Waited Long Enough — It's Time to Act with Compassion and Courage

For too long, Hawaii’s legislation has failed to address the root causes of houselessness and public safety challenges, leaving our communities vulnerable. Bills have stalled or died in committee, programs remain underfunded, and policies often treat symptoms instead of solutions. Hawaiʻi now faces one of the nation’s most severe houselessness crises: in 2024, 6,389 people were unhoused statewide, with 62% living on streets, in parks, or other places not meant for habitation, and Oʻahu seeing a 12% increase from the prior year. This is not just a housing problem; it is a public safety and community crisis, with residents consistently citing crime, safety, and houselessness as top concerns.

Unsanctioned encampments strain our transit and emergency services, while rising deaths from violence, substance use, and mental health crises underscore the human cost. Houselessness also drives higher use of hospitals, jails, and other public systems, revealing systemic gaps in care. Without tackling affordable housing shortages, mental health and substance use support, and economic inequities, these problems will continue to grow.

As a state that values ʻOhana and caring for kupuna and keiki, we must act now with practical, evidence-based solutions that protect dignity, strengthen safety, and ensure our communities remain vibrant, secure, and inclusive. Below are a few of the following legislation that failed in committee:

HB212 HD2 SD1 Return‑to‑Home Program (2025) — Failed in Conference Committee

This bill sought to make permanent a program that returned some houseless individuals to their home states. Despite its potential to provide stability and resources, it died in conference committee during the 2025 session.

HB2084 (2024) — Intergovernmental Task Force on Encampments — Deferred, Died in Committee

HB2084 relating to homelessness would have created an intergovernmental task force to address unsanctioned houseless encampments and related public safety hazards on state and federal lands, including waste and fire risks.

SB1617 (2023/2024) — Affordable Housing & Permitting Reform — Carried Over / Not Enacted

This bill aimed to tackle homelessness by removing barriers to affordable housing and streamlining planning and permitting processes. While promising, it was carried over and ultimately not enacted.

SB2885 (2024) — Not Enacted

Focused on expanding triage, detox, and mental health services for houseless individuals with behavioral health needs. Although the bill text exists, it was never passed into law.

SB3335 / HB1246 – (2024/2025) — Behavioral Health & Triage Services — Died in Committee

Several iterations of adult‑use marijuana legalization bills were introduced and advanced through committees or the Senate, but ultimately died before final passage or were never scheduled for a floor vote, keeping Hawaiʻi as one of the few states without a legal, regulated recreational market. Advocates pointed to broad public support, economic opportunity, and benefits of criminal justice reform, but legislative leadership declined to advance the measure.

SB319 – (2025) — Marijuana Decriminalization Expansion — Failed to pass third reading

A bill to expand decriminalized possession limits and reduce criminal justice involvement for cannabis offenses was narrowly rejected by the Senate 12‑11, even though broad decriminalization proponents argued it would reduce arrests and system strain.

Over the past several years, important legislation aimed at addressing houselessness, public safety, and criminal justice reform has failed to pass, leaving our communities without the solutions they need. Programs that could have helped houseless individuals safely return to supportive communities never became permanent, and proposals to coordinate responses to unsafe encampments and reduce public safety hazards stalled. Efforts to remove barriers to affordable housing and expand mental health, triage, and behavioral health services for vulnerable populations were also blocked, leaving gaps in care and stability. On the justice side, measures to legalize or decriminalize cannabis — creating economic opportunities and reducing unnecessary arrests — were never enacted, keeping the state behind on reform. These missed opportunities show a pattern of inaction, leaving Hawai‘i residents without the protections, services, and pathways to stability our communities deserve.

The Plan

Practical Solutions for Houselessness and Public Safety

I am committed to making District 26, Makiki, Tantalus, Punchbowl, and Papakōlea a safer, stronger, and more supportive community for everyone. Hawai‘i faces a growing houselessness and public safety challenge, and our neighborhoods cannot wait for solutions. My plan focuses on expanding affordable housing, increasing access to mental health and substance use support, and improving safety in our streets and public spaces, all through partnerships with county, state, and federal agencies, as well as local nonprofits, in effective public-private collaborations. By coordinating resources and taking practical, achievable steps, we can protect the dignity of vulnerable residents, reduce hazards in our neighborhoods, and ensure that every community in Hawai‘i is safe, resilient, and thriving.

Here is how I will be committeed to acheiving these goals:

1. Expand Housing Stability Programs

Increase access to affordable housing subsidies so no resident pays more than 30% of their income on rent.
Support partnerships with nonprofits and local developers to prioritize senior housing, transitional housing, and supportive units for those exiting homelessness.
Implement “right‑of‑return” policies for displaced tenants when public or affordable housing is redeveloped, ensuring community continuity.

2. Strengthen Coordinated Services

Create a State Task Force: a collaboration of city, county, state, and nonprofit partners to address houselessness, public safety, and health in a coordinated way.
Increase mental health, triage, and substance use support programs at neighborhood clinics and community centers to reduce strain on emergency services.
Leverage federal and state grants to fund wraparound services that combine housing, job training, and healthcare.

3. Improve Public Safety in Public Spaces

Address unsafe encampments proactively, offering outreach, temporary shelter, and safe relocation options rather than punitive measures.
Invest in neighborhood-based public safety initiatives, including community policing, lighting, and emergency response improvements.
Enhance data-driven monitoring of fire hazards, sanitation, and crime hotspots to target interventions efficiently.

4. Promote Criminal Justice and Policy Reform

Support decriminalization and diversion programs for low-level offenses tied to houselessness or substance use, reducing unnecessary jail time.
Encourage restorative justice and community-based alternatives to strengthen neighborhood safety while keeping people out of the criminal justice system unnecessarily.

5. Engage the Community

Regular town halls and “listening sessions” to hear concerns from residents, kupuna, and community organizations.
Volunteer and partnership programs that mobilize residents to support houseless neighbors, maintain parks, and improve shared public spaces.
Public information campaigns on resources, services, and community initiatives to increase awareness and reduce stigma.

6. Measurable Outcomes

Track reductions in unsheltered houselessness in Makiki, Tantalus, Punchbowl, and Papakōlea annually.
Monitor improvements in public safety metrics (crime rates, emergency calls, fire hazards).
Measure access to services and housing stability for vulnerable residents.

Hawaii Perspective Report 2024

PLATFORM