Waikiki’s Homeless Count Plunges 91% — How the City Did It

The heart of Waikiki’s tourist corridor recorded just 10 unsheltered individuals during April’s point-in-time count, marking a dramatic 91% drop from previous tallies that once showed more than 100 people living on the streets between Kalakaua and Kuhio avenues.

The stunning reversal in Hawaii’s premier tourist destination comes after years of coordinated efforts through the city’s Safe & Sound initiative, which paired traditional law enforcement with expanded social services and medical outreach teams.

“What we’re seeing in Waikiki represents a fundamental shift in how we approach homelessness,” said James Chen, director of the city’s Office of Housing and Homeless Services. “Instead of just moving people along, we’re actually connecting them with the resources they need to get off the streets permanently.”

The Safe & Sound partnership launched in early 2025, bringing together the Honolulu Police Department, Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s office, the Aloha Ambassador program, and specialized street medicine teams from healthcare providers across the island.

A Coordinated Response

The program’s success stems from its multi-pronged approach. While HPD officers maintain visibility patrols, Aloha Ambassadors — unarmed community liaisons — serve as the first point of contact for individuals experiencing homelessness. These ambassadors, many with lived experience of homelessness themselves, help build trust and connect people with services.

Street medicine teams follow up with on-site healthcare, mental health counseling, and immediate assistance with housing applications. The coordination means someone sleeping rough near the International Market Place might encounter an ambassador in the morning, receive medical attention by afternoon, and have temporary housing lined up by evening.

The April count focused specifically on the core tourist zone bounded by Ala Wai Boulevard, Kapahulu Avenue, and the coastline — an area that includes the Royal Hawaiian Center, Waikiki Beach Walk, and the main hotel strip along Kalakaua Avenue.

Previous counts in this same area had recorded between 80 and 120 unsheltered individuals, making the drop to just 10 people particularly striking. The count was conducted over a single night in April by trained volunteers following federal guidelines for point-in-time homeless surveys.

Tourism Industry Relief

Hotel managers and tourism officials have watched the transformation with cautious optimism. The visibility of homelessness in Waikiki had become a persistent challenge for an industry still recovering from pandemic losses.

Rick Egged, president of the Waikiki Improvement Association, noted that visitor complaints about safety and cleanliness have dropped significantly since the program’s implementation. “Our members are seeing real change on the ground,” Egged said. “But we know this work requires sustained commitment.”

The success in Waikiki’s core hasn’t simply pushed the problem elsewhere, according to city data. Homeless counts in adjacent neighborhoods like Keeaumoku and McCully have remained stable or declined slightly, suggesting people are accessing services rather than relocating.

Sustainability Questions

However, advocates and city officials acknowledge that maintaining these gains will require ongoing resources and political will. The Safe & Sound program costs approximately $2.3 million annually, funded through a combination of city budget allocations and federal homelessness prevention grants.

Some homeless advocates worry that the focus on Waikiki, while beneficial for tourism, may not address the broader housing crisis affecting families and individuals across Oahu. The island’s overall homeless population remains above 4,000 people, with many living in cars, on beaches outside the tourist zone, or in overcrowded temporary shelters.

The program’s street medicine component has proven particularly effective, with teams reporting that 73% of individuals contacted have accepted some form of services — far higher than traditional outreach efforts that relied primarily on law enforcement contact.

Dr. Maria Santos, who leads one of the mobile medical units, explained that many people experiencing homelessness have complex medical needs that make traditional shelter stays difficult. “When we can provide immediate healthcare and connect people with appropriate housing that accommodates their conditions, we see much better long-term outcomes,” Santos said.

What’s Next

City officials plan to expand elements of the Safe & Sound model to other high-visibility areas including downtown Honolulu and sections of the Waianae Coast. However, the unique resources and tourism industry support available in Waikiki may be difficult to replicate elsewhere.

The next quarterly count, scheduled for July, will provide crucial data on whether the April results represent a sustainable trend or a temporary improvement. For now, the transformation of Waikiki’s streetscape offers both hope and a template for addressing one of Hawaii’s most persistent challenges.

For Honolulu residents, the success raises important questions about resource allocation and long-term solutions. While the tourist corridor’s improvement is welcome news, sustaining these gains while addressing homelessness island-wide will test the city’s commitment to comprehensive reform rather than location-specific fixes.