UPDATE, 2013-APR-15: These are the shows from April 10 & 11

Homeless In Hawaii, Part 1 (Audio) https://thinkwingradio.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/thinkwing-radio-hawaii-homelessness-part-2-2013-apr-11.mp3

Homeless In Hawaii, Part 2 (Audio) https://thinkwingradio.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/thinkwing-radio-hawaii-homelessness-part-1-2013-apr-10.mp3

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Homelessness is a problem all over the world, and each place has it’s unique aspects.

Hawaii is a group of islands in the middle of the Pacific, meaning it’s surrounded by thousands of miles of ocean.

Most of us think of Hawaii as a paradise we would love to visit, even if just once. All the tourism guides tell us so.

Paradise must seem pretty good to a homeless person. But is the paradise they expect the paradise they find?

There will be two interviews exploring this topic. They will air as Thinkwing Radio with Mike Honig on Open Journal (KPFT 90.1FM Houston), and are currently scheduled on two consecutive days (Wednesday & Thursday, April 10 & 11, from 9:30-9:55 AM CDT).  is the second of two interviews on the problem of homelessness in Hawaii.

My guests will be Ms. Allison Schafers, a long-time reporter for the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, and currently their Waikiki Bureau chief. She mainly covers the business and tourist scene on Oahu, and in the process has written many stories about the homeless there.

My other guest is Colin C. Kippen. Since June of 2012, Mr. Kippen has been the State Homelessness Coordinator, or “Homelessness Czar”, for the Department of Human Services of Hawaii. Mr. Kippen is a Native Hawaiian, and has held high-ranking positions in many non-profit and governmental organizations dealing with various aspects of the Native American experience in the United States, both on the Mainland and in the Hawaiian Islands.

You can learn more about the problems of Hawaiian homelessness and ‘houslessness’ by clicking on the following links:

• Hawaii: Blue skies, sandy beaches and a rising tide of homelessness, October 13, 2014 5:00AM ET, by Jon Letman  [Editor’s note: This article is part of a series being published by Al Jazeera America to highlight different aspects of the Homeless Bill of Rights and the plight of those living on the streets in the U.S.]
• Governor names [Colin Kippen] new homelessness czar [VIDEO]http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/18743239/governor-names-new-homelessness-czar
• Articles by AllisonSchafers:
  • http://www.ihshawaii.org/newsArchives/2010/02.16.10%20Homeless%20share%20view%20of%20Waikiki%20as%20paradise.pdf
  • http://www.ihshawaii.org/newsArchives/2010/02.16.10%20Homeless%20in%20Plain%20Sight.pdf
  • http://www.ihshawaii.org/newsArchives/2010/02.16.10%20Impossible%20to%20Ignore.pdf
  • http://www.ihshawaii.org/newsArchives/2010/02.17.10%20Well-intended%20efforts%20to%20help%20the%20homeless.pdf
  • http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-2767830491.html
  • http://www.staradvertiser.com/newspremium/20130205_Outreach_finds_rental_units_for_the_chronically_homeless.html?id=189781761
  • http://www.staradvertiser.com/newspremium/20121125__Homeless_no_more.html?=180740591
  • http://www.staradvertiser.com/newspremium/20121125__Homeless_Youth_in_waikiki_dangerous_situation_grows.html?id=180740731
  • http://www.staradvertiser.com/newspremium/20121009__Thousands_snared_by_law_on_closed_parks.html?id=173258561
  • http://www.staradvertiser.com/newspremium/20121010__City_shuts_24hour_restroom_facilities_in_Waikiki.html?id=173457291
  • http://www.staradvertiser.com/newspremium/20120228__Waikiki_restrooms_dirty_locked_unsafe.html?id=140680993
  • Kaua’i Economic Opportunity, a nonprofit organization that is the largest of several agencies on the island that provide services to the homeless. http://www.keoinc.org/
  • Homeless Service Organizations: http://www.hud.gov/local/hi/homeless/serviceorgskauai.cfm

County of Kauai

• Aloha United Way
  Dial 2-1-1 anywhere in Hawaii
  Aloha United Way 211 is a free, confidential information and referral service available 24 hours a day.
  Services offered: Direct referrals, General Information, Volunteer Opportunities
• Catholic Charities Community and Immigrant Services
  Kauai Community & Housing Assistance Program
  3343 Kanakolu Street
  Lihue, HI 96766
  (808) 246-2400
  Services Offered: Help with first month’s rent, Food, Clothing, Referrals
• Hale ‘Opio Kauai Inc.
  2959 Umi Street
  Lihue, HI 96766
  (808) 245-2873
  Services offered for ages 0 – 21 only: Housing, Food, Medical Care, Clothing, Counseling
• Kauai Economic Opportunity, “KEO”
  2804 Wehe Road
  Lihue, HI 96766
  (808) 245-4077
  Services offered: Emergency Shelter, Transitional Housing, Homeless Outreach Program, Homeless Emergency Loan & Grant Program, Food Distribution
• YWCA Kauai Family Violence Shelter
  3094 Elua Street
  Lihue, HI 96766
  (808) 245-8404
  Services offered to victims of domestic violence and their children: Emergency Shelter, Food, Clothing, Child Care, Counseling, Support Groups, Restraining Orders, 24-hour Crisis Line at (808) 245-6362