“Hawaii Kai Homeless Map Cleared by Attorney General”

News Release from Office of Rep Gene Ward, January 11, 2017

Honolulu - Representative Gene Ward (R-Hawaii Kai-Kalama Valley), recently wrote a letter to the State Attorney General because of accusations and or innuendos suggested by various attorneys and HUD officials that publishing a map of the homeless in Hawaii Kai in his November 2016 Newsletter sent to 15,000 constituents was somehow unconstitutional or illegal.

“I wanted this map to be squeaky-clean and sought the Attorney General’s opinion to put this contentious issue aside once and for all. Today we received word from the AG’s office that we have a clean bill of health, which is a win-win for our community and a win-win for the homeless.,” Rep. Ward stated.

Rep. Ward’s detailed Hawaii Kai Homeless Map, cautioned constituents that some encampments and homeless individuals were dangerous because of drug usage or their mental health status.  According to Deputy Attorney General Diane Tiara, (see attached letter) the Hawaii Kai Homeless Map poses no legal or constitutional issues as it only reports factual incidents and events and refrains from publishing any confidential personal information such as names, photographs, or identifiable descriptions of the homeless individuals.

"The purpose of the map was and still remains to assist homeless persons in Hawaii Kai find services and resettlement in shelters, as well to keep constituents apprised of areas where the homeless frequent, and I will publish it again if necessary in view of the Attorney General’s opinion," Ward concluded.

***

PDF: Attorney General Jan 9 letter

PDF: Map of Hawaii Kai Homeless camps

Background: Ward Seeks Attorney General's Opinion On Hawaii Kai Homeless Map