Mitchville, Hawai‘i – This week, the County of Hawai‘i took a significant step in addressing the aftermath of a previous administration’s short-term homeless shelter initiative. The site of a former shelter on Kuawa Street, known as Mitchville Kuawa, was thoroughly cleaned and cleared. The cleanup follows the successful placement of most participants into long-term shelter options, with some transitioning to permanent housing.

The Mitchville Kuawa shelter, which opened in late July 2023, served individuals who had been residing in Mitchville Ponahawai. While the shelter did see success in transitioning many participants into housing, one individual left voluntarily.

The shelter officially closed on November 27, with its last residents moving into long-term shelter options or permanent housing. Following this, the new administration took action to clean and clear the site, marking the end of the previous initiative’s operations. The last residents were able to return to the site to retrieve their belongings through the first week of December. The County’s lease for the property ends on December 31, prompting the County’s staff, community partners, former shelter residents, and volunteers to come together for a thorough cleaning of the site.

The Big Island community would like to express their sincere thanks to everyone who volunteered to help clean up the site and supported the effort. This collaborative effort reflects the community’s strong commitment to addressing homelessness and making a positive impact.

“Through this initiative, homeless individuals have received services and support to help them move toward permanent housing,” said Mayor Kimo Alameda. “We want to mahalo County staff, former shelter residents, and our community partners for helping to clean the site, and we look forward to building upon this effort to address homelessness in our communities.”

Kehau Costa, administrator for the County Office of Housing and Community Development, reflected on the importance of the cleanup and the lessons learned: “This first cohort’s progress is a testament to the effectiveness of this initiative, and we are committed to exploring ways to continue this important work, providing more opportunities for those in need and making a lasting impact.”

She emphasized that the effort wouldn’t have been possible without the many community partners and volunteers who helped throughout the four-month initiative: “We couldn’t have done it alone,” Costa said. “Providing this temporary shelter where some of the most vulnerable members of our community could receive services and care they need to exit homelessness would not have been possible without the collaboration of our dedicated partners. We are grateful for the collaborative effort from all parties involved.”

The Mitchville Kuawa shelter site only served occupants from Mitchville Ponahawai.

Looking forward, the County is exploring additional opportunities for Mitchville shelters across both East and West Hawai‘i, with the community working together to address homelessness and create sustainable solutions for those in need.

Persons experiencing homelessness who may want or need access to community resources are encouraged to connect with the Hawai‘i County Homeless Engagement (HCHE) Hui by visiting Neighborhood Place of Puna or by calling (808) 501-1413, ext. 3.

In partnership with the County, the HCHE Hui is currently a pilot program that includes street outreach around Hawai‘i Island to reach homeless individuals who may need access to community resources. Current HCHE Hui partner agencies include Neighborhood Place of Puna, HOPE Services Hawai‘i, Project Vision Hawai‘i, and Going Home Hawai‘i.