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.
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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 raised.In 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.
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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.
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