Photo by Ivan Slade

    Beautiful beaches, luscious mountains; Hawaii is a paradise--or so it seems. It is simply a mask for the other side of paradise that Hawaii deals with; homelessness. Being without a home may just seem like a problem that only the individual is affected by, however, it is a problem that the whole of Hawaii shares. It stems from the premium cost of living--the housing market. It is among the main catalysts of the growing homeless population. The side effects of it not only affects Hawaii socially, but also the industry that is arguably Hawaii’s main source of income--tourism. The homelessness problem is a huge burden in which it affects all aspects of Hawaii leading to its’ struggling economy.

    Ground zero for many on the brink of becoming homeless is of course the housing market. Finding a home to reside in especially in Hawaii is often met with difficulty due to how costly it is. According to a report by the University of Hawaii, “The average cost of a one-bedroom apartment in Honolulu is around $1,200 a month, which is out of reach for around 30% of Hawaii’s families, even on two adult incomes.” Keep in mind that this is just the bare minimum to live; excluding all other expenses. Because the housing market has such an immense impact on the economy, higher prices also mean a harder struggle for that 30%. An article on homeless by NBC puts it best; “...Honolulu’s homeless problem is rooted in the pairing of one of the nation’s highest housing costs with below-average wages...” A low wage not only means that it’s more difficult to find a place to live that meets that wage, it also means that there would be a miniscule amount of room left for anything other than a home because of Hawaii’s high cost of living.

    A rising homeless population also means more difficulties for some other industries that rely on having clean streets--specifically tourism. Those homeless have very few places to go and thus will often “...spend their days and nights on the beaches, parks, and streets of Waikiki…” with nowhere else to go. Waikiki, which is essentially the center of tourism located in Oahu, is affected through the visually degrading look that the displaced brings. A look in which is obviously undesirable because of the effects it has on how well the industry performs. For example, Calgary, Alberta visitor Ivan Tandberg commented that though the homeless weren’t bothersome, “...it wouldn’t look good to have many people living on the streets.” Being an industry that relies quite a bit on having a visual appeal, ruining it would bring down the economic status of tourism as well. It doesn’t end there though, as it would have a potential domino effect that leads to a less successful economy for Hawaii.

    It is also worth mentioning that those without a roof also mean that they are sometimes without social order--a danger to society. It’s certainly not a representation of all of homeless individuals, but it is often seen that way, how “Poor health condition creates difficulty for those trying to assist the homeless population as many are unwilling to accept help in any form.” Mental illnesses, for one, can be a big difficulty to deal with. Their social disconnect would hinder their ability to properly communicate and in some cases, can make them violent. In other cases, it may also be that they simply don’t want help. Sherri Watson, 43, and homeless, stated that “I love it; free rent, free electricity, who wants to stay in a bed-bugged shelter?” This means that some, like Watson, like the advantages that come with being homeless. The environment, being somewhat unique to Hawaii makes it easier for homeless to sustain themselves out in the open. Watson also gave a small gibe towards public shelters for homeless individuals in her statement, which goes to show just one of the opinions that the homeless have on these homeless relief methods.

    In essence, the cycle of having a high cost housing market/living has resulted in quite a bit of homeless in Hawaii, which does take its toll on the society. Having a large population of homeless has had a domino effect that has led to a struggling economy. Leaving the problem as is will only put Hawaii’s economy in a deeper hole that it is already dug itself into.

Photo by Ivan Slade

Photo by Nicholas Swanson

    Beautiful beaches, luscious mountains; Hawaii is a paradise--or so it seems. It is simply a mask for the other side of paradise that Hawaii deals with; homelessness. Being without a home may just seem like a problem that only the individual is affected by, however, it is a problem that the whole of Hawaii shares. It stems from the premium cost of living--the housing market. It is among the main catalysts of the growing homeless population. The side effects of it not only affects Hawaii socially, but also the industry that is arguably Hawaii’s main source of income--tourism. The homelessness problem is a huge burden in which it affects all aspects of Hawaii leading to its’ struggling economy.
    Ground zero for many on the brink of becoming homeless is of course the housing market. Finding a home to reside in especially in Hawaii is often met with difficulty due to how costly it is. According to a report by the University of Hawaii, “The average cost of a one-bedroom apartment in Honolulu is around $1,200 a month, which is out of reach for around 30% of Hawaii’s families, even on two adult incomes.” Keep in mind that this is just the bare minimum to live; excluding all other expenses. Because the housing market has such an immense impact on the economy, higher prices also mean a harder struggle for that 30%. An article on homeless by NBC puts it best; “...Honolulu’s homeless problem is rooted in the pairing of one of the nation’s highest housing costs with below-average wages...” A low wage not only means that it’s more difficult to find a place to live that meets that wage, it also means that there would be a miniscule amount of room left for anything other than a home because of Hawaii’s high cost of living.
    A rising homeless population also means more difficulties for some other industries that rely on having clean streets--specifically tourism. Those homeless have very few places to go and thus will often “...spend their days and nights on the beaches, parks, and streets of Waikiki…” with nowhere else to go. Waikiki, which is essentially the center of tourism located in Oahu, is affected through the visually degrading look that the displaced brings. A look in which is obviously undesirable because of the effects it has on how well the industry performs. For example, Calgary, Alberta visitor Ivan Tandberg commented that though the homeless weren’t bothersome, “...it wouldn’t look good to have many people living on the streets.” Being an industry that relies quite a bit on having a visual appeal, ruining it would bring down the economic status of tourism as well. It doesn’t end there though, as it would have a potential domino effect that leads to a less successful economy for Hawaii.
    It is also worth mentioning that those without a roof also mean that they are sometimes without social order--a danger to society. It’s certainly not a representation of all of homeless individuals, but it is often seen that way, how “Poor health condition creates difficulty for those trying to assist the homeless population as many are unwilling to accept help in any form.” Mental illnesses, for one, can be a big difficulty to deal with. Their social disconnect would hinder their ability to properly communicate and in some cases, can make them violent. In other cases, it may also be that they simply don’t want help. Sherri Watson, 43, and homeless, stated that “I love it; free rent, free electricity, who wants to stay in a bed-bugged shelter?” This means that some, like Watson, like the advantages that come with being homeless. The environment, being somewhat unique to Hawaii makes it easier for homeless to sustain themselves out in the open. Watson also gave a small gibe towards public shelters for homeless individuals in her statement, which goes to show just one of the opinions that the homeless have on these homeless relief methods.
    In essence, the cycle of having a high cost housing market/living has resulted in quite a bit of homeless in Hawaii, which does take its toll on the society. Having a large population of homeless has had a domino effect that has led to a struggling economy. Leaving the problem as is will only put Hawaii’s economy in a deeper hole that it is already dug itself into.

Graphic for the "Querencia" project.

    At first, everything starts out slow and easy. Then it gets faster; so fast that sometimes it feels difficult to keep up. Life for me has felt that way so far, and escaping it temporarily is no easy task without a place to go to. That place--Querencia--is a place that makes oneself feel tranquil. I’ve gone to quite a few quiet and calm places, but one place in specific is without equal. Kaneohes’ Hawaiian Memorial Cemetery is that place.
    The drive to the cemetery is one filled with awe in every direction. Even on those rainy days. The large mountains whose true height is masked by the clouds, the lengthy radio-silent Tetsuo Harano tunnel, the vibrant plants and trees; it is a place whose elegance is unmatched by any other place I have seen. All except for the cemetery itself.
    The first time in which I laid eyes on the cemetery, it seemed great in size. A size that makes oneself appear smaller than how big they think they are. It didn’t look like a cemetery at all either, since the lusciousness of Kaneohe is greatly shown there. The deep curves in the hills made it seem as if there was much to explore; and there was. Being a young individual at the time made the experience all the more exhilarating. Though, such emotions often faded over the years and transformed as life got more complicated and stressful. I would not be able to keep up with the pace of schooling and even when I did, I felt overworked and too anxious to relax knowing that there’s probably going to be something else in store the next week.
    However, visiting the memorial is impactful, to say the least. I forget about the mistakes I’ve made that week; what’s due the next day for school. It’s quite easy to forget about them temporarily; to lose oneself in the serenity. I am not the type of individual who prefers to have the feeling of being distressed, but the memorial greatly diminishes that feeling. No longer do the tasks I am required to perform seem as difficult as they originally seemed to be. No longer does a future of comfort seem out of reach, because such comfort is possible. The memorial makes me feel that way. The fact that it is a cemetery alone provokes great thought and reflection on the lives that have past. Walking along the graves, taking as much time as possible with each step allows me to clear my mind and focus on one thing at a time; whether it is a significant or an insignificant part of my life.
    One might say that a cemetery should be a place where one mourns, not a place of enjoyment. Of course, I mourn. My grandmother and I visit once every few months to remember the lives of family that have died. We express our feelings; tell them the events that have happened in our lives since their passing even though we know that nobody else is listening. However, I’ve learned through the many funerals that I’ve been to that celebrating their lives is of greater importance than acknowledging their death. To commemorate their successes; the impact that they’ve made to shape the world around them. The cemetery acts like a safe haven for what they did. A haven for the stories and memories where one can visit and remember, like an immortal library. The thought of that simply fascinates me to the point where my focus is lifted from the stress I currently have, even if it may just be a temporary one. It is eerie to just enjoy being surrounded by the dead, but it isn’t eerie to me when I think of the memorial as a library of life stories. Such a thought is especially true when paired with the beauty of Kaneohe.
    All things come to an end, and so does my visit to the memorial. But the thoughts that are created within my mind do not. They constantly float around my mind whenever anything stresses or upsets me. Going to the memorial is immensely refreshing. Even though I visit it once in a long while, they evoke similar emotions that make it seem like what I consider it; my Querencia.