Hobos

I don’t know how it happened but suddenly hobos are everywhere with their cardboard signs asking for money on corners of Oahu. I don’t know if this is happening on other islands too, but it seems that on Oahu a hobo convention was held where it was unanimously voted that the form of begging would be through sentimental signs on the corners of streets.

Of course this is nothing new for mainlanders. When I travel to the mainland I see these people all over, with signs. Some of them aren’t even really hobos over there, they are homeless people in a really desperate situation (let me clarify that a homeless person is not necessarily a hobo, for anyone can end up homeless, esp. here in Hawaii. A hobo is someone who has obviously not bathed in days, is sometimes inebriated, and seems to see no pressing reason to bathe or sober up).

I don’t know if maybe they were always around the island but they just now moved into an area I could see them. In the past year or so they are always around the Nuuanu area, mostly in the intersections along the Pali. Today, I kid you not, while driving I saw 3 hobos in 3 different corners of the Vineyard/Pali intersection.

One of them had a sign that said he was a Vietnam vet. Another had a sign that I couldn’t read (he wrote too much on it so the lettering was too small), plus he was angrily waving it around as if he were upset that motorist weren’t writing him checks and empting out their wallets for him. The third had a sign that said he would work for food…this last sign raised questions within me. After all don’t we all work for food? I know we usually get paid a little bit more than to just purchase food, we can usually pay for shelter also (barely), but did he not understand the basic concept of ALL work is to get things for us to survive, such as food?

The idea of working for food was more noble than the rest of hobos. The other ones just expected me to give them money because they are hungry. I’m a poor college student, I’m always hungry. I wonder if I could go to Paradise Palms with a sign that read “will study for food”?

But really, if they are willing to work for food, and if they already are going to be at a corner, why not sell newspapers? Or why not work as the Hungry Lion mascot? He basically just stands there too holding a sign (hmmmm….now that I think about it I haven’t seen him in a while).

I realize there are large psychological and social problems these people face. Once you’re at the bottom it’s hard to get up. You can’t get a job having no address. How can you even get to your job when you don’t have enough money for the bus? Where do you shower? How do you get a good night’s rest in order to be able to work a shift? These things all play on my emotions and I can seriously lose sleep thinking about these people. But in the back of my head I know there’s agencies out there equipped to help them. These people must not want help, or refuse to get treated. Right? And if I give them a dollar all they will use for is alcohol, right? But what if they are really hungry, how can I tell the difference, how do I know which one is hungry, which one is drugged out? Who really needs food, who really needs a job, who really is just a bum, who are these people?

How can I help?

Comments

Aloha! I'm so glad you wrote about this topic...HOBO'S and sign waving for money.

All the ones in my area. Liliha, Vineyard, Chinatown, Pali, etc. are all drug addicts. I've seen them with my own eyes going to Chinatown and picking up drugs. They they get their nerve to act like so disabled, limping, or undernurished due to their hardships of being unemployed. They have Food Stamps, SSI or Veteran's pay which is not enough due to their addictions. Do not, I repeat...do not give one cents to them! If you want to give to the needy, give to an orginization that is truly giving to benefit the recipients.

written in anger....
Auntie Lynn aka Auntie Pupule

The private and government agencies responsible for helping people who deserve it are strapped for money and swamped by a growing number of needy. The city and state have virtually turned their backs on the homeless problem, condemning thousands to an existence without human dignity. Food banks are empty. And by medical definition drug addiction is a disease, not a moral sin or a crime, but drug treatment is available for only a small percentage of people who need it. These problems will just get worse if we blame the victims or hope they disappear by magic. Whatever happened to the spirit of aloha and people helping people?

I had a resturant in the heart of Chinatown. I live in Mayor Wrights and yes, my children and I were homeless. Drug problem and alcohol addiction was mine too. The topic was Hobo's. I am so fed up with seeing the same cardboard holding scumbags who are drug addicts. One, especially...who is always on Vineyard and Liliha cross section. I've caught him smoking crack right on the street, in broad daylight. Yeah, there are many who need the aloha from all of us. The ones who deserve and will try to better their lives. I could go on and on.

Lynn Vasquez
momthreesoldiers

Back in da day wen us kids use to catch da bus in town; I only use to rememba seeing one homeless man. He was everytime by Fort St. He was one big Hawaiian man wit one beard kinda SantaClaus looking. Da reason I rememba him is because one time da bus driva wen pick him up and droppem' off couple of blocks away for free. Anden one of da ada passengers wen ask the bus driva "how come you every time let him ride free?" Da bus driva said "I sked bumby he bachi me." Da passenga said "I was tinking dat too."
Decades later I go home and get homeless peoples all ova da place. Auwe. Wow wot wen happen?

Malama pono.

Lika, "Uncle John" is still there. Selling his newspapers everyday in front of MacDonald's on Ft. Street Mall. He is a "hobo" by choice. He works and finds enjoyment drinking beer at one the many bars in Chinatown. Infact, I drank at the same bar for many years and also cooked his dinner for many years. The definition for "hobos" has it's own catagories too. Thank you for bringing up the man that looks like Santa on Ft. Street Mall...I will be less judging because of that.

Malama pono,
Auntie Lynn aka Auntie Pupule

I live in Portland, OR now, and recently one TV station did a story on this same problem. One man they talked to was so angry and threatened to break the cameraman's camera if he didn't stop filming. The crew still wanted to talk to him, so the guy followed through and did break the camera.

The problem is getting increasingly bad here; the news crew went to a bunch of the most popular places where the people were begging for money, and found tons of drug paraphernalia: needles, syringes, etc.

A couple of my friends have tried to give the people food and instead of being thanked were insulted and yelled at.

The news story also revealed that the people are very territorial about the corners they've staked out (or on freeway off/on ramps), and that they can make a pretty darn good living by doing this.

I have a friend who helps the truly homeless by giving them clothes, bedding and backpacks, etc. I admire her efforts... but I never give anything to the people on the corners holding their signs. Anybody can say they're a Vietnam vet, or have a family of 8... but is it real? I don't know..

It's a very sad situation; business owners downtown are fed up because the panhandlers create such an unwelcome atmosphere to the shoppers. But there's nothing the owners can do: they've been told the panhandlers have a right to free speech. Sheesh!

Interesting topic. When I moved to Italy I was just shocked at the amount of panhandling/begging that goes on. It was something totally unfamiliar to me, as I was told that most are either gypsies or foreigners from other countries. At first it made me feel terrible, but as I was later advised, you just can't keep giving pocket change everytime you see someone beg.

Coming from Hawaii, I can only imagine how residents might feel. Over here, they are just ignored.

I just got home from work and am enjoying my first glass of Johnny Walker blue. Nothing in da frig, I'm hungry...can somebody send me some food or money?

umm,let me make it clear that a hobo is someone who travels looking for work at their next random destination. a tramp is someone who travels and doesnt work. and a bum doesnt travel or work. so i beleive you mean bum.

There are good and bad in all groups of people. I have lived on the islands here for three years now and still do not have a real home here. I have met many good people and many that I wish I had not met. I try to help those who are kind, and ignore those that are not. Talk to people before you judge them, you may be suprised what you learn. Peace and prosperity to all of you, Sam

I used to work at a nice seafood restaurant on maui as a teen as a dish washer and a couple of the prep cooks were young surfer guys in their 20's who lived in their cars on the beach in Sprekelsville. So were those guys homeless, hobos, tramps, or bums?

A sad case: Obviously mentally retarded and frail, I see this man begging on a street corner when he should be in a protected, caring environment. I wonder, who puts him out to beg? This is a heartbreaking.

Other side of the coin: Often see a group of fairly young people with their "need food" signs. Gee, one of the girls has newly-highlighted hair. Sure wish I could afford that.

Anybody remember, "Papa was a rolling stone?" It's become so easy to label anyone who makes bad choices 'victim'. The real victims are the broken families they leave behind..."and when he died, all he left us was alone."

This is really funny, because in my city, Worcester, massachusetts,the exact same phenomenon is taking place. Hobos on many busy corners with card board signs looking for hand outs... Some even say "will work for Food, but when I offered one a days works at
5.00 bucks an hour he refused..WOW I often thought it was organized too...

Everyone wants to help other people and maybe giving cash isn't the way. Next time your in the store buy one of those cheap fruit pies for 50 cents and try to give that to one of the homelesss/hobos that will tell you if they want drug money or food

Aloha, Years and years ago there were rumers that cities in cold weather environments would give thier homeless transients a plane ticket to Oahu. The thought was that it was cheaper to get a ticket to a warm climate, and not have to worry about them freezing to death, than to house them over the winter. I still don't know if it's true or not. As for helping without having the money go to drugs and alchohol, would it make sense to purchase a pack of gift certifricates for a resturant or grocery store

hobos and trampsare two kinds of steel riders(train hoppers)a hobo works when he gets to a new city or state, tramps party when we go to different cities or states.

i thank that some hobos are sometimes nice one gave me a sandwhich.it kind of watery with green stuff on it.i tasted funny.but he was being nice.

Not all are homeless or for that matter destitute. Many panhandle as a means of income without taxation. Think about how much money some of these people make standing on a street corner and not paying taxes for the income they receive. Then living in a group home environment or on the beach in a tent rent free. Dont give them money give them food or a blanket. Money just encourages them to stay on the dole. Give a man a fish and feed him for a day, teach him to fish and feed him for life!

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