Kahauiki Village Gets an Ocean View: How a Multi-Agency Effort Cleared Floating Homeless Encampments Offshore

Residents of Kahauiki Village woke up this week to something they hadn’t seen in months: an unobstructed view of the Pacific Ocean. The transitional housing community in Keehi Lagoon, home to formerly homeless families, can now see blue water where floating makeshift structures once blocked their oceanfront vista.

A coordinated effort between the City and County of Honolulu, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, and local nonprofits successfully cleared multiple floating encampments that had been anchored offshore from the housing development. The operation, completed over three days last week, removed approximately 15 makeshift floating structures constructed from tarps, plywood, and salvaged materials.

“It’s like getting our backyard back,” said Maria Santos, a Kahauiki Village resident who moved into the community six months ago with her two children. “The keiki love being able to see the water again. It gives us hope.”

The floating encampments had been growing steadily over the past year, as individuals experiencing homelessness sought shelter in the protected waters of Keehi Lagoon. While the structures provided temporary refuge from the elements, they created environmental concerns and blocked ocean access for the transitional housing residents who were working to rebuild their lives.

Multi-Agency Coordination

The cleanup required careful planning to balance enforcement with compassion. City officials worked with outreach teams from the Institute for Human Services and other service providers to connect floating camp residents with shelter options and social services before the removal operation began.

According to Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s office, 12 individuals accepted placement in emergency shelters, while others relocated to mainland camps or moved in with family members. No one was arrested during the operation.

“This wasn’t just about clearing the water,” said James Kauahikaua, a community liaison with the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development. “We wanted to make sure people had somewhere to go. That’s what separates this from just sweeping a problem to another location.”

The operation also addressed environmental concerns. DLNR officials documented oil sheens and debris that had accumulated around the floating structures, some of which had been leaking fuel from generators and small boats used by residents.

Kahauiki Village’s Unique Position

The irony of the situation wasn’t lost on Kahauiki Village residents, many of whom had experienced homelessness themselves before securing transitional housing. The 143-unit development, managed by Ahe Group, provides temporary homes for families working toward permanent housing solutions.

Built on former Sand Island State Recreation Area land, Kahauiki Village was designed as a stepping stone for families transitioning out of homelessness. The community includes case management services, job training programs, and children’s activities — all aimed at helping residents achieve housing stability within two years.

Having their ocean view blocked by homeless encampments created a complex emotional situation for residents who understood the desperation that drives people to seek shelter wherever they can find it.

“We’ve been there,” said Santos, who lived in her car with her children before securing housing at Kahauiki Village. “But we also deserve to have this space where we can heal and move forward.”

Environmental and Safety Concerns

Beyond the visual impact, the floating structures posed legitimate environmental and safety risks. Keehi Lagoon serves as habitat for Hawaiian monk seals and green sea turtles, both protected species that can be impacted by debris and water contamination.

The lagoon is also popular with families for swimming and fishing, activities that became more dangerous with the presence of unstable floating platforms and the debris they generated.

State officials plan to increase monitoring of the area to prevent new floating encampments from establishing. However, they acknowledge that without addressing the root causes of homelessness, similar situations may arise elsewhere along Oahu’s coastline.

Looking Forward

The successful cleanup represents a model for addressing homeless encampments with both enforcement and services. City officials say they plan to apply similar multi-agency approaches to other problematic areas around Honolulu.

For Kahauiki Village residents, the clear ocean view serves as both a daily reminder of how far they’ve come and motivation for the work still ahead. The community continues to help families transition to permanent housing, with a success rate that program officials say exceeds 75 percent.

As more families move through the program and into stable housing, the hope is that Kahauiki Village’s ocean view will inspire both current residents and the broader community about what’s possible when comprehensive approaches address homelessness with dignity and support services.