Latest news with #AlanaOlaPono
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
After health complaints, power shift brings relief to Kauhale neighbors
HONOLULU (KHON2) — It's a quieter morning in Iwilei. For residents like Gerrine Budig, it's a welcome change. 'The little one was kinda hidden. You could barely see it over the fence. But it was the big one that was the monster. All gone. Peace,' Budig, who has lived at the senior living facility since 2017, said. Honolulu to hold 74th Mayor's Memorial Day Ceremony Three months ago, Gerrine and her neighbors contacted KHON2 to tell us of their battle against constant noise and noxious fumes from a generator powering the Alana Ola Pono kauhale next door. The generator, according to them, ran 24/7. 'The diesel smell, the fuel smell, or whatever it was, it would make you kinda dizzy,' Budig said. The situation escalated to petitions, community meetings and voices response, last week the generator was removed and the kauhale was conncted to the electrical grid. The state Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions told us the generator was intended to be temporary while HECO's connection plans too longer than expected. According to the governor's office, there are currently 47 residents in 43 households at Alana Ola Pono kauhale. To date, the kauhale has served a total of 65 residents, 11 have transitioned into permanent housing. With the generator now gone, the focus shifts on the future of kauhale living in Hawaii. $37 million was allocated in the budget towards building five more kauhale statewide. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news House Bill 431, passed this legislative session, aims to strengthen the Kauhale Initiative. It provides $50 million for the program, requires an audit of the initiative and mandates regular reporting. The bill awaits the governor's approval. 'We've seen the benefits in our communities of getting people off the street. So it's not a negative about the program, but it's not a new program anymore, and we're actually investing a lot of money into it continually. And so we would like there to be management, just like anything,' said State Representative Lisa Marten, chair of the House Committee on Human Services and Homelessness. As Hawaii continues to address homelessness, the balance between providing shelter and maintaining community well-being remains delicate. At least back in Iwilei, residents' attitude towards the kauhale has changed. 'I have nothing bad to say about this one. They even have security guards they patrol this whole Iwilei Road. That's good, too,' Budig said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Residents sound-off on generator powered kauhale's inefficiency, safety concerns
HONOLULU (KHON2) — KHON2 first told you about safety and noise concerns regarding a generator powering a state-run homeless kauhale last week. On Thursday, Feb. 13, a community meeting was held to address those at 888 Iwilei Senior Living Facility are at their wit's end. 'You are sacrificing the lives of the people in our building. All old people, and very fragile,' said one angry resident. Generator keeping kauhale running leaves seniors exhausted and sick Dozens gathered at a community meeting addressing the use of a large generator powering the 43-unit Alana Ola Pono homeless kauhale in Iwilei. Dale Krupa lives at the senior facility next door. He said the noise and fumes are unacceptable. 'We've had complaints. It's six weeks of people getting ill,' he said. 'There's headaches or sore throats. When people walk outside and exercise, there's a loud noise at night and we're not getting any progress.' Ernest Caravalho, Chinatown neighborhood board chair, is upset the state spent $6 million to build the kauhale without adequate power. 'First of all, was it built right? And the answer would be, absolutely not,' Caravalho said. 'So they went and rushed and built a kauhale that had no electrical lines on it.' Jun Yang, a member of the state Kauhale Task Force, said they are working as fast as they can to fix the problem. 'One of the things that we've done just recently today was to switch out the generator from the larger one to a smaller one,' Yang said. 'We'll continue to keep the communication going between the residences next door. We want to be a good neighbor.' 'There's a big difference,' Krupa said. 'I thought it was actually turned off. And I did not smell fumes.' But he said it's too soon to say the problem is fixed. The high cost of running the generator and fuel is also a concern. 'Can you tell me any estimate of how much it costs?' KHON2 asked. 'I don't have that number for you. I'm going to get that to you as soon as I can,' Yang said. Hawaiian Electric Company Director of Community Affairs Kurt Tsue said they're working with the state to power the kauhale. Check out more news from around Hawaii 'Any time it requires bringing in a new power line and an electric meter, it does require an extensive amount of engineering. So that's what's currently being done right now,' Tsue explained. He said it could take months depending on whether they connect underground or overhead. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
