Pu'uhonua O Wai'anae | Shafkat Anowar

"It's not a shelter, it's a village"

"We don't have to deal with cops. Being woken up with something else, you know! Over here we just rest our head and go sleep" Stanley said. On the evening of 31st December, he prepares for his fresh new year look.

Serving home to 219 people including 21 children, Pu’uhonua O Wai’anae is the largest and by far the oldest homeless camp on the island of O’ahu. The place is not considered a camp for the ‘homeless,’ rather a place for the ‘house-less.’

On the suburb of the Wai’anae Boat Harbor is the home to several kinds including children working families and elders. This village is based on shared love and bond that exists among the resident as well as known for its strict discipline and rules honored by the members. The community consists of eight sections and each section has its own captain.

Twinkle Borge, leader of Pu’uhonua O Wai’anae has been living there since 2003. To her, this place is only place she knew that she can call ‘Home.”

Borge grew up in Palolo. As a teenager she grew up in a girl gang that stole cars and broke into houses and as an adult she was a recovering addict. Her willingness to thrive in life made her change her lifestyle. Her compassionate and thoughtful charisma earned the trust of the people around her leading her to build relationship in the neighborhood. She happens to be the guidance and matriarchal support of the village. Different people come to her for advice, help, or sometimes just a hug.

Devilanueva has been living in the village for 7 months who was once moved to Kathleen Eevillanuva (next photograph). They got divorced right after they both moved to the shelter.

Kathleen Eevilanuva after getting divorced from her husband got a new place in the shelter. The first picture is during her first week and the second one is during her third week of moving in.

On the other hand, Penny Rose living in the shelter for 2 years moved in with Devilanueva in his existing house.

Barbara Meachal plays with her dog inside her house. She has been living in the shelter for the past 5 years.

Pu’uhonua O Wai’anae or Shelter of Wai'anae is the heart to those who seek safe shelter.

Derrel Scott who is on his second year at the shelter shares about how it feels to be 'finally' safe inside the shelter.

On the new year's eve of 2019, close village residents gather and dine together. Queenie at first remained in the village by living inside Twinkle’s complex but eventually built her own place in the camp.

Different parts of the shelter, hanging objects are found on the trees.

As of December 31, 2019, Renee Sylvester was the newest resident of Pu'uhonua O Wai'anae.

Polelia Rochard Jr. living in the shelter for a year move here from the streets. After being violated by the cops he finally found a place where he can build safe rooftop."I no can fight em. I no can do nothing. This not my land. I am lucky, I get to dwell here," he mentioned.

There are more than hundred pets in the refuge. Normally it’s tough for homeless people to find shelter with available space for pets.

"Growing up was always at the beach. Always camping. I wake up and I don't have to answer to anybody, go out when I want to."

Jeffrey moved to Pu’uhonua O Wai’anae from Texas two years back. His mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer and can barely remember her son.

Jeffrey became homeless after he moved to Hawaii but Twinkle Borge, leader of Pu’uhonua O Wai’anae made an arrangement for him at oceanside of the village which he can finally call 'home.'

Zone captains take turns to secure the night life in the camp. The situation in the Harbor has gotten harder in recent years. The face of the neighborhood is changed now. With the rising population in the camp, it has become harder to provide security to the area.

Pu'uhonua is strict in mainting the existing rules and regulation. It is mendatory for the residents to attend the community meetings where the captains reflects any updates or concerns. Keala listens to the last community meeting of 2019. She holds the last home in the shelter closest to the primary school.

Tita (Right) has lived in the village for over a decade. Before she moved in, she used to live in the beachside as a homeless. "I feel this like a family here even if we are not blood related. We watch out for each other. I choose to live like this. Growing up was always at the beach. Always camping. I wake up and I don't have to answer to anybody, go out when I want to."

Tita wears a "FTW" - "F*** The World" tatoo which she got 3 years ago following her drive for heavy metal music. She believes the shelter is going to come to end one day due to over population. It started of with 14 families, reached upto over 300 families and now hosts around 198 people including children.

"We have our own beach" said BJ, who is sometimes seen to provide tour to new visitors. He took me round some blocks to their beach where people often spends time swimming and fishing. The small beach is link to the Wai'anae Boat Harbor. The Harbor’s location on the edge of the coast makes it an ideal spot for fishing, according to some Native Hawaiian. The Harbor sits on edge of the beach front property and some spots inside the camp have magnificent ocean views. The Waianae Boat Harbor and homeless camp both state owned.

Homelessness is always an ongoing crucial issue Hawai’i. According to the City and County of Honolulu 2019 Homeless Point in the Time Count Results, the total number of sheltered and unsheltered homeless people for 2019 is 4,453, which is a decline of 1% (42 people) over 2018 (total=4,495).

Even if there are other officially registered shelters and intermediate homes in Waiʻanae but those who reside at Puʻuhonua o Wai‘anae are influenced by community culture. There, the focus is on kindness and correlation, empathy over sympathy. According to village leader Twinkle Borge, “Love one another, help each other” is the philosophy she follows and implements to structure the refuge.

As of 2019, the entire village is planning to relocate to their own bought private land in Wai’anae Valley to build permanent housing with their existing resident.

Being Houseless is not Homelessness. People in need of a family will make a home wherever they live. For some case they can even build a community just like Pu’uhonua O Wai’anae or Sanctuary of Wai’anae.