Waianae encampment deadline extended amid pushback from lawmaker, community

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A state senator is challenging the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ (DLNR) decision to extend the deadline for the Puuhonua O Waianae (POW) encampment at Waianae Boat Harbor.

Read more First Alert Forecast: Lots of sunshine and light to moderate trades Sunday

It comes as state and community leaders continue efforts to relocate residents to a permanent site.

The deadline was originally set for the end of June and has been pushed to Oct. 16.

State Sen. Samantha DeCorte said the extension marks the third delay in the relocation process since the original notice to vacate was issued last year. The initial deadline was Nov. 27, 2025, followed by extensions to April 30 and June 25 before the most recent extension.

DeCorte criticized the repeated delays during a press conference on Saturday.

“We are calling on DLNR Acting Chair Ryan Kanakaole, members of Puuhonua O Waianae, and the governor’s office to do what they said they would do. Complete the transition, honor the commitment, and bring this process to a close. After 20 years, another extension is not the solution,” DeCorte said.

She added concerns remain around public safety near the harbor, including reports of vandalism involving fishing equipment and conditions she says affect families and students traveling through the area.

“Fishermen have dealt with vandalism (and) theft of their equipment. Public safety concerns have persisted, and kids have to walk past unsafe conditions just to get to school.”

DLNR said the extension is intended to provide additional time for the relocation of the POW community to a nearly 20-acre site in Waianae Valley, while construction continues at the mauka housing development.

Kanakaole said in an email sent to DeCorte Friday that POW requested a deadline extension to vacate by the end of November, and the department, along with the governor’s office, reached an agreement on the October move-out deadline.

“DLNR, POW, and the Governor’s Office worked through what remains to be completed and established a reasonable timeline tied to actual relocation, cleanup, and closure activities and to provide for the most orderly and voluntary transition, which will ultimately lead to a solution that will last,” Kanakaole’s email said in part.

He added that more than 100 people remain at the site and POW leaders said that number should substantially reduce over the next several weeks, “potentially by nearly half within the next month.”

Read more Lease extended to keep Punaluu Black Sand Beach Park open

Read Kanakaole’s full email to DeCorte here.

The agency said it is coordinating with community leaders to ensure residents can relocate safely and to support cleanup and transition efforts at the harbor.

The relocation site has been part of a long-term plan tied to the late community leader Twinkle Borge, who envisioned moving families from the harbor into permanent housing.

Community leaders with Puuhonua O Waianae said the process remains complex and cannot be completed immediately.

Kala Paishon, a community leader with the encampment, said some residents are still unable to move because housing units at the new site are not yet complete. He also said limited transportation and volunteer support make moving difficult for some families.

“We do have some people that volunteer their time to help our people move. We’re limited on our vehicles, but we do what we got to do to move the people up there,” Paishon said.

He added that many residents have deep ties to the harbor after years of living there.

“Some people have been here 10-plus years,” Paishon said. “This is the memory they have, and this is where they felt like home.”

Paishon also said crews are working to gradually transition residents while maintaining cleanup efforts at the site.

“We’re making sure everybody moves up there safely… at the same time, we’re still cleaning up our opala down here.”

DLNR said it continues to work with community leaders and the governor’s office to move the relocation process forward in the coming months.

Read more Bellows Beach Park to close to public for military training