In an article written by author Sohpie Cockie, the plans of Hawaii’s state legislature to combat homelessness in tourist hub, Waikiki, is outlined. The article explains that the state has initiated a campaign to help the homeless population of Waikiki either, return to their home states, or into local shelters. It was also mentioned that majority of the homeless living in Waikiki are transplants and came to Hawaii with the intention of being homeless- or became homeless after they arrived and found that the cost of living is excessive. In order to discourage transplants from moving to Hawaii the initiative will also take the time for a PR campaign getting rid of blogs and false media that encourage the thought that Hawaii is a homeless friendly state.

The initiative has been funded privately, by the local mainstream hotels, and publicly. The private funders had similar views abut the homeless situation as most (think about the views of those in the documentary we watched on homelessness in Santa Monica- its unsightly and bad for tourism. It is interesting to note how our greed for money cloud our judgments and numbs us, allowing us to forget to treat humans as humans no matter their circumstance.

Though the program is also focusing on relocation they are worried about the system being overly abused. They predict that there is a possibility that people will flow into Hawaii in mass numbers with plans to get there, and none to leave, with the assumption that the government will present them with a free ticket home.

Homelessness is an issue everywhere,

Including paradise.

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