Ala Moana Beach
 

Hi, when I was in waikiki in April I really liked the Ala Moana beach...very calm and nice with the lava rocks sticking out of water. But, I did notice a TON of homeless people there with shopping carts etc living there> And a bus giving the homeless food etc. Just wanted to know if that's how it always is, or if maybe I came on the day the food bus comes and the homeless go where the free food is? Is Ala Moana Beach known as a homeless hangout? Just wondering b/c I'm going back in a month for a month with my 2 young kids and just not sure that would be the best place to hang out with them.

Thanks very much for your help. :)

Ala Moana is not known as a park with a homeless problem, but to be honest, I don't know if I would even notice homeless there. You know how you get used to seeing things in your regular life and don't notice changes.

Just asked two thers in my office though, and they didn't think there was a large population of homeless there. It is a prime beach and park for local families.

Another good beach for families is San Souci beach at the opposite end of Waikiki. It is in Kapiolani Park, on the east side of the Aquarium and Natatorium (war memorial). Clean sand, gentle waves, decent parking, grass and trees above the sandy area, and snack bar in the New Ohtani Hotel.

lcuy:

Shhhhhhhhhhhh about Sans Souci, 'kay? :-)

But you're right -- one of the most delightful little parks in that area...great for families!

As for Ala Moana, the City just began another crackdown. TV showed mounted police doing a "sweep" -- allowing homeless to take only that which they could carry on their person (I've seen some of them with 2 fully-loaded shopping carts of stuff!)...whatever remained behind was hauled away to the dump. Supposedly these sweeps will happen regularly and without warning -- this should keep them moving along...but to where???

We've been there MANY times and I don't think I recall ever seeing any homeless people. But then again, it could have changed since we were there last.

Another good beach to go to is Kailua. Amazing!!

I love San Souci beach but I haven't been there in a while . . . hmmm, maybe time to get back there.

Anyway, I do sometimes notice more homeless people at Ala Moana than at other times - their number probably being directly related to the occasional crackdowns by the police.

Usually the homeless are in the grassy areas closer to Ala Moana Boulevard and further away from the beach itself - usually camped out on/near a picnic bench or near a grouping of trees (which I guess provide shelter for them).

Ala Moana park itself is not really known as a park with a homeless problem, though. Maybe you did happen to be there on a day that one of the various charities scheduled their meal drop offs.

I jog there at least 2x a week and IMHO, there are a lot of homeless. However, they do not usually approach people and sometimes you can't tell which ones are homeless--quite a few of them simply look like anyone else hanging out at the beach with their BBQs and other beach gear. No food bus comes to Ala Moana Beach Park.

I have to second MelissaHI. My husband was a doctor at Queens when we lived on Oahu and a lot of his homeless patients considered Ala Moana "home."

It's also nice to know the name of Sans Souci! That's the beach we always went to when we didn't want to drive since it was down the street from our house, but I never knew the name of it.

I was at San Souci as recently as February this year and there was literally no one there! So much so that I asked a park maintenance guy, "is this San Souci?" because I couldn't figure out what all the fuss was about. That said, it is a nice square of smooth sand at the far end of Waikiki.

Ahh...I've seen the magic bus. It's a small, rasta painted bus which dishes out vegetarian food to the homeless around lunchtime. I thought it was a vendor but realized it was feeding the homeless.
There are quite a few living in the park which does not look good for the tourists but they seem harmless.

As a former homeless person in Ala Moana park for 2 years prior to 2004, I can tell you as of the end of 2003 Ala Moana park was filled with regular homeless, at least a fifth of them addicted to and regularly smoking crystal methamphetamine and/or marijuana. Many of the others were involved in regular shoplifting from the Ala Moana mall across the street. And in one case, they were taking orders for stolen items from some of the park workers (a disgrace to the Parks and Recreation Dept) The police have known about the drug activity but have done very little about it. They have made many busts there but did little to imprison the people caught. Generally the homeless criminal element doesn't bother the public, and in most cases are very friendly. At night though I wouldn't leave a bike or a backpack sitting out by itself. I know for a fact a large group of the more criminal type would gather in the corner near Atkinson Drive and Ala Moana Blvd. The "food bus" is run by a hare-krishna group and often they bring musical drums in addition to their tasty renderings. Churches also bring free food and clothing along with worship on various weekdays. The truly unfortunate fact is much work can be found in Chinatown across from the Kmart, along with fairly cheap rooms to rent. In a given day a sturdy individual can garner at least $50 cash from doing construction-type work, no taxes. I believe the large amount of free food handed out, along with the ease of getting into the Hawaian wellfare system and the generally fare weather, enables many of the homeless to easily remain so. I would as has been mentioned before try Lanikai Beach in Kailua. There are many quaint little shops and restaurants in Kailua (and neighboring Enchanted Lakes), where you can meet all kinds of people vacationing from around the world as well as many bright and talented locals. The Starbucks there is a good spot for meeting really cool people who are usually up for conversation with new faces, if your into that type of thing. Another idea are the beaches next to and further down from Waikiki, heading towards Diamond Head. They are usually less jam-packed but are still quite beautiful and relaxing.

I stand corrected! When we went jogging on Tuesday my friend pointed out the food truck/van near the second concession. You know, I pass this spot 2-4 times a week and never noticed it. I guess I go so often that I've become blind to it!