Following city pressure, Waikiki church agrees to stop serving up free meals

[@kakelinga]

The homeless are everywhere; and not all of them are criminals. The tourist are going to see them at the malls, libraries, college campuses, the sidewalks. There are no affordable rentals and definitely no affordable townhouses or houses to purchase on this rock. Even people with full time jobs are one paycheck from being homeless or already are living with family.

[@randallaila6776]

Like the tourist never seen homelessness before BS tourist have homeless issues to where they live

[@Waynes-xt9gr]

yep! even if the tourists sees homeless here, its NO DIFFERENCE around the world.....Go to Vegas for vacation, see that ghetto district by "the strat"......

[@diveanddine]

that bird showing up is a miracle… a sign to keep doing good deeds

[@jefff7316]

the bird has been in it's mating cycle this time of year, and it is trying to get people away from it's young...

[@davidlong1182]

I really meant “Oh my God!” When I saw the bird. Ole Rick the D…

[@Waynes-xt9gr]

@@jefff7316 no get too technical about this......what IF it INDEED is a sign? well ALL need inspirations nowadays.....

[@dan749]

Serve lunch at Honolulu Hale

[@lilliantavares2965]

God Bless You Fr. Akiona!

[@harryradar176]

Don't mess with the hotel cartel.

[@babyUFO.]

That church meal saved my life in hard times. SHAME ON YOU

[@pakababy3710]

Shame is right. Let's stop helping people in need because tourists might see them. SO shameful.

[@aaronkamakaze2967]

@pakababy3710 bra most of the homeless down in Waikiki are not even from Hawaii. They ARE tourists, permanent tourists who mooch off locals tax dollars. Hawaii doesn't want homeless people but wants to enable them any chance they can and not make the hard decisions necessary to make a change.

[@cyl1536]

They need to move. We need to care about both sides, the down and out and the residents. Handouts just keeps them in that lifestyle, it may seem like you are helping them but you are keeping them in that very sad life. For the residents I can only use River of Life as an example and them leaving Chinatown and the huge difference i see in less homeless sitting on the sidewalk. I feel I can go back to shop at Chinatown now. They need to feed where ancillary services can be provided.

[@syllau88]

Fr. Akiona’s white bird is a sign that they will find a way for their good work to continue in whatever shape or form.

[@ekekelaridgeway2190]

This does not sound right. Free food attracting criminals, homeless & rubbish? I think this needs to be handled in a different manner instead of taking away a much needed service. You people in power need to find an alternative. Good job , Father Akiona. I, too, saw that white dove as a sign of hope. Keep doing the Lord’s work & being compassionate. Ty

[@mermaidofaloha]

So the mayor wants to punish everyone because of the actions of a few? When the mayor says feeding people in need is not a good idea, it attracts bad. Obviously he has never been a hungry, homeless person in need. And he is wrong, bad is everywhere. Clean up Waikiki mayor but don’t stop feeding hungry people to do that. The Bible tells us: when someone is hungry, feed them. I think the new lunch line should be on the block where the mayor lives! Thank you pastor for your kindness and for helping those in need, with the most basic necessity, a meal to eat. God bless you.🙏

[@travisgrant5608]

Don't need homeless and undesirables in WAIKIKI the biggest money maker for Hawaii!

[@trevorstepoo8838]

The mayor probably has a mansion with a kitchen full of food this guy probably does not care about the less fortunate karma will come back to him in a big way

[@couz96797]

That bird did it. A sign from above?

[@catchumifyoucan]

Killing off ALOHA one plate lunch at a time. Great job hawaii

[@garagespooky8193]

No aloha anymore.

[@kentonleong9661]

Yes let’s not disturb the tourism industry

[@aaronkamakaze2967]

Most of the homeless in Waikiki are not even from Hawaii. They are permanent tourists mooching off locals tax dollars.

[@educated_guess]

Houseless people could also help the church by not leaving a huge mess while waiting for or after consuming their free meals. 🤷‍♂️

[@realFactsForYou422]

God will provide a way to help those in need. Mahalo for the pastor for helping the homeless.

[@travisgrant5608]

There is NO god who provides anything. God is just a man-made-up money making concept.

[@leimomipakikalakalanihuia96]

Honolulu Hale is BS!!!

[@cigarillo22]

What did you expect? Gotta save tourism and the rail by maning it with a dwindling police force.

[@islandbirdw]

This is pretty sad, there’s obviously food insecurities that are acute in a place like Hawaii

[@lilliantavares2965]

Fr. Akiona is from Moloka'i and like Fr. Damien we take care :)

[@Waynes-xt9gr]

and thus why.......when oahu folks visit the neighbors islands, and they tell the locals there "oh yeah.....we from oahu"......the locals look strangely a few moments and turn their backs and walk away.........

[@RossellaPerry]

Those that made decision should not eat for a week and live outside. Humanity is more important than catering to corporate leaders of hotel and tourist industry. This will not stop crime .The bird was a sign from God .I hope all Christians remember what the mayor has done . No church should be governed by state politics. Church and state are separate. Very disappointing .

[@Golgibaby]

Cheers to hopeful follow up regarding collaboration and continued restoration in good faith in humanity and good will with charity. The enabling, festering stagnation, and corrupt opportunistic crime and societal up-ending/chaos is a real and unfortunate ugly truth when there is no reciprocation of good intention--if unchecked or unprotected for safety, unfettered compassion metastasizes like cancer and becomes resentment, contempt, and end stage cynicism and dehumanization (ask anyone who has worked with noncompliant homeless or criminal narcissistic self interested psychopaths or sociopaths). That is now moral injury occurs. Or at least that is how good intentioned dutiful morality mutates to something uglier.

[@tasha9778]

They complain about the opala but I see many tourist litering...smh

[@808fire3]

The mayor's true colors are showing. Karma is real.

[@thaimassage23]

McDonalds on Keeaumoku is NOT a problem? Look what that area has collected over the years.Open your eyes!

[@markallan1382]

If you feed stray cats, they wont hunt and they come to stay. Kick them and they move on. Most homeless WANT to live this way because they don't want to follow the rules at shelters.

[@Waynes-xt9gr]

exacto-mundo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! curfew is at 9pm, the homies dont abide.......

[@jondonut1810]

Mayor needs to step down

[@Waynes-xt9gr]

no worry......next election for mayor and CCPs....going be VERY VERY interesting......in fact, hawaii's voter registration might increase next one

[@realestatestud4313]

He should resume the food program on Sand Island.

[@gregcarter8656]

That church in Waikiki was not the only place to get free food on Oahu. There are several other places, and they offer a lot more than just lunch. IHS in Iwilei offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner, 7 days a week, including holidays. And what about EBT? That's free food. That church was only one of many options.

[@alohastateofmind3565]

Hare Krishna still doing food for life at Kapiolani Park?

[@BraddahJon01]

Just do early in the morning. My religion teacher, shout out to Mr. Jenkins from Saint Louis School, and his church I believe still dishout food every Friday morning and there's like no tourists out.

[@Vince_F]

“There, but for the Grace of God, go I.”

[@stanmuneoka8117]

Shameful with no compassion..

[@lilliantavares2965]

Mayor Blangiardi is short sighted. There are creative solutions to the problems. God is watching.

[@Waynes-xt9gr]

I still cant forget about that vid where the asian lady is trying to ask him something and he gets all nasty at her.......

[@mangoman423]

Wow people have no compassion people gotta eat ....a hungry man is an angry man

[@kati-ana]

Homeless is talked about like they're strays. Criminal and drug dealers need to be dealt with, they are the worst.

[@PerfectoKiss]

Wow! The hypocrisy of religious folks. Let’s accept Jesus but when feeding the poor cuts into our backyard, no can do Jesus. We cannot disrupt our cash cow. The irony is simply amazing.

[@davidkmillerphotography]

Have them wait somewhere on the church property so they're not in sight of the hotel and less like to leave their rubbish behind.

[@user-nr4hq2fo1b]

Aloha 🌈 Good location to feed homeless will be at the Kapiolani park. Thanks and God bless 🙏🏻

[@josephjacintho5074]

This is sad ....what mayor is making this decision

[@Waynes-xt9gr]

he's doing it wrong IF he wants "brownie points".

[@CerebralEnema]

Don’t stop. The mayor’s comments make it clear that he sees all homeless as criminals who deserve no help. You cant let people like him win.

[@billysgarden-u9s]

its true I havent seen and honest one yet. just saw 2 in the parking lot at FHB. a loser male and a loser female both with their pants down shitting inbetween cars and there is a park with bathrooms right across the street. imagine getting out of your car and u step right on it.

[@trav8086]

This doesn’t feel right. The program is meant to help feed the hungry, the acts of a few shouldn’t penalize the innocent. Maybe the city could work with them with police presence and different programs.

[@Vince_F]

1:29 …So neglect the innocent because there MAY be bad people among them?!?!?! This train of logic seems chicken sh*t.

[@Kaika808]

Mayor has no Aloha. Hopefully, we don’t forget this when election time comes around. 🙏🏽

[@Jazzfestn]

Its become ILLEGAL to have compassion. Mayor MUSOLINNI has to have it HIS way or the Highway. Meanwhile the City and State have FAILED MISERABLY.

[@evalentin1975]

It's politically motivated from the lawmakers that run Hawaii

[@goorant]

Da gov. Not from hea. He should go home. Deep state pawn das why.

[@jamesdolan9702]

Maybe should teach them how to earn money so they can feed themselves. Pretty sure there is something in the Bible along that concept.

[@2-old-Forthischet]

Hand out jobs instead of food.

[@maxbielawski6745]

God forbid a tourist sees a homeless person