KAILUA-KONA — Hawaii County Department of Parks and Recreation maintenance crews had their hands — and their trucks — full Wednesday, as they cleared out rubbish from the Old Airport Park in preparation for a cleanup effort set for Aug.
KAILUA-KONA — Hawaii County Department of Parks and Recreation maintenance crews had their hands — and their trucks — full Wednesday, as they cleared out rubbish from the Old Airport Park in preparation for a cleanup effort set for Aug. 9-10.
Dennis Riordan, superintendent of parks maintenance, said crews carted away 15 truckloads and two roll-offs (dumpsters) full of trash following the mass exit of homeless campers from Old A. He added workers didn’t encounter any recognizable biohazards, such as drug needles.
Police previously issued notices to vacate to homeless residing in the park, actions which Sgt. Roylen Valera of the Community Policing Division said were conducted “without incident.”
Riordan said interactions between park crews and homeless involving the removal and/or transport of their belongings went similarly.
“Everyone was respectful of my workers, and (my workers) were respectful of them,” he said.
Beyond trash removal, the county also offered to help homeless move belongings they wished to keep either to a new temporary shelter at Hale Kikaha in the Old Kona Industrial Area or to storage facilities.
Some individuals had belongings transferred to the residences of their families and friends, facilitating at least some contact with loved ones who may be able to provide some measure of assistance in resolving homeless situations in Kona.
Finally, the county offered to store belongings for people who had nowhere to immediately transport them. But Riordan said only two people opted for that service. The county stores such materials for up to 45 days before disposing of them.
