Bill advances to give homeless one-way tickets

Some of Hawaii's homeless could get a one-way plane ticket back to wherever they came from under H.B. 1187 H.D. 1, which the House Housing and Judiciary committees have both passed and sent to the Finance Committee.

The purpose of the measure is to reunite homeless with their families in other states and thereby get them off the beach and out of the parks. To do so, the state would buy them cheap, one-way airplane tickets. The bill is supported by the Waikiki Health Center, Waikiki Improvement Association and Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii. The Hawaii Public Housing Authority supported the intent of the measure.

“If the state could help out many people who are in homeless shelters by buying them a ticket home, not only is it the humane thing to do, but it is very cost effective,” testified Jessica Lani Rich, executive director of the Visitor Aloha Society. “Many have a better life waiting for them back home.”

Despite the tight budget year, this new program began with a proposed $75,000 annual allocation, although the Judiciary Committee deleted the specific amount.  "When people come to Hawaii for a handout, I don't like it and it's wrong," said a Honolulu resident who testified before lawmakers after hearing about the bill. "Don't come here without any money or job abilities, because it puts a crunch on us taxpayers."

The bill's sponsor, Housing Chair Representative Rida Cabanilla, said she wants to reunite the homeless with their families while saving the state money it spends to provide welfare and other government services. "We're not going to force anyone to leave. It's a compassionate bill," said Cabanilla. "It's cheaper to buy a $300 ticket than enter them in social services."

Advocates for the homeless supported the measure, but some voiced concern that it could have an unintended consequence of increasing the number of homeless in Hawaii once they realize they can get a free flight back to the mainland.