KANEOHE, Hawaii — On Friday, Gov. Josh Green, together with community representatives, celebrated the blessing and opening of Ka Malu Koolau kauhale, or tiny home village, in Kaneohe. It is the second kauhale opening under Green’s administration.
Area kupuna helped guide the selection of the name, Ka Malu Koolau, that “honors the protection and safety of the Koolau for our most vulnerable friends and neighbors in Windward Oahu,” according to a news release.
“Homelessness should not be accepted as normal in our society,” said Gov. Green in the release. “We are seeing that Hawaii’s communities are opening their eyes to those suffering around them and are coming together to support the kauhale effort. Some individuals have even come forward asking that we help their own loved ones and friends. I am glad to have them join me in saying, ‘yes in my backyard.’ Housing is healthcare, and this is truly the path forward for our state.”
Ka Malu Koolau will provide a safe and stable home for the houseless in the community with restroom facilities, shower trailers, laundry facility and daily meals. It will be able to provide shelter for about 34 people at a time and includes 24/7 security, an intake/management staff and peer support. Office space is also available for onsite care coordination.
“Kauhale like this will serve unique community needs across the state,” said John Mizuno, statewide homeless coordinator for the Office of the Governor. "What we found for Ka Malu Koolau, is that the community shared similar concerns for their homeless neighbors living on the streets and in encampments in the mountains. We all want safe places for ourselves and our families. Ka Malu Koolau is the state’s solution to providing compassionate care to those most in need throughout Windward, Oahu.”
Windward resident and community advocate Mahealani Cypher said, “All of us can attest to having witnessed this growth in the number of homeless people. “It is gratifying that this kauhale will serve our local homeless people first, because – in our view – that is where our need is the greatest.
“Homeless people here in our community are the brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, maybe even parents of island families. Our shared kuleana is to help those in need from our own community,” said Cypher.
The state’s lead development partner, HomeAid Hawaii, planned and constructed Ka Malu Koolau reducing the cost by approximately $700,000 through pro bono labor and donated materials and supplies. The total cost of development is valued at $1.3 million.
Project Vision Hawaii is the state’s operating partner for Ka Malu Koolau providing daily meals, case management services, 24/7 staff and security. PVH will also be the coordinating unit among government entities, organizations, churches and others to meet the needs of the kauhale community.
Kauhale are communal living spaces that share bathrooms and kitchens. It functions like a tiny home village with “village” as a key element in which people take care of the space as a community and take care of each other. According to the governor’s office, kauhale are sustainably affordable – over time, people will depend on their community for support rather than on professional services.
Gov. Green aims to decrease statewide homelessness by 50% in his first term in office by incorporating kauhale, according to the release.
Sarah Yamanaka covers events, environmental and community news for Spectrum News Hawaii. She can be reached at sarah.yamanaka@charter.com.
