HONU Moves to Neal S. Blaisdell Park

News Release from City and County of Honolulu, April 1, 2024

HONOLULU – Mayor Rick Blangiardi today announced that the Homeless Outreach and Navigation for Unsheltered Persons (HONU) has move operations to Neal S. Blaisdell Park in Aiea. This move, effective today, will allow the HONU program to continue its critical mission of providing immediate shelter and support to Honolulu’s homeless population in a new community. The operation can serve up to 40 homeless persons at a time, providing meals, showers and restrooms, and services to help connect them with the most appropriate shelter or housing options.

HONU had previously been located at Keehi Lagoon Beach Park, where it had provided shelter and supportive services for the past 153 days. During that time, HONU provided services to 204 different people, and connected 119 clients with shelter or supportive housing.

“The HONU experiment has been an incredible success,” said Anton Krucky, the Director of the Department of Community Services. “At first, people were understandably hesitant to welcome homeless services such as HONU into their neighborhoods, but people are beginning to understand that the solution to homelessness begins at the community-level. As we transition to Neal S. Blaisdell Park, we remain committed to optimizing our outreach and expanding the positive outcomes for those we serve.”

The HONU program exemplifies the city’s innovative approach to temporary sheltering and social service linkage, ensuring that participants have access to emergency and transitional shelter, permanent housing, or other housing and treatment options. The program also supports relocation and family reunification efforts both on and off the island.

Since its creation in 2019, HONU has touched the lives of over 3,667 people, helping to navigate more than 1,997 people into more permanent living arrangements. HONU will remain at Neal S. Blaisdell Park until July 31, 2024, at which point it will move to serve the residents of another community in Honolulu. The Department of Community Services is considering which location may be best served as the next location for HONU, and will work in close coordination with community organizations, neighborhood boards and local community leaders when selecting a new site.

—PAU—

About HONU

The Homeless Outreach and Navigation for Unsheltered Persons (HONU) program is a mobile triage and shelter site located on public lands, typically at City parks, for approximately 90 to 120 days. The site may serve up to 40 homeless individuals at a time. While enrolled in the program, HONU participants receive navigation services designed to identify the most immediate and appropriate shelter or housing option for them. Meals, snacks, and access to hygiene facilities are included.

HONU, also known as the Lift Mobile Navigation Center, began as a partnership between the Honolulu Police Department (HPD), the Department of Community Services (DCS), and the State of Hawaii.