KAHULUI (HawaiiNewsNow) - A group of homeless individuals on Maui are celebrating after a judge ruled in their favor on Tuesday.
They are suing the county, claiming workers illegally took their belongings during a 2021 sweep in Kahului.
Sonia Davis and Jessica Lau say they are one step closer to receiving justice.
The two women, with the help of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Hawaii, are suing Maui County for taking and destroying all their belongings during a homeless sweep at Kanaha Beach Park four years ago.
“A lot of the knock-on effects of what happened are still with them and impacting them today,” said ACLU Hawaii Legal Director Wookie Kim. “So that’s another reason why it’s so important that they have the opportunity to tell their story.”
The ACLU says the county ignored repeated requests for a hearing to contest the sweep.
Then last year, the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled that the constitution requires the county to hold a contested case hearing before seizing and destroying property of homeless people.
On Tuesday, a Maui judge ruled they will finally get that hearing, which will allow both sides to present evidence, testimony and cross-examine witnesses.
The women say that day cannot come soon enough.
“The way they were treating me, that’s why I’m so emotional. The way I have been being treated, like I am a criminal,” said Davis.
After being homeless for 15 years, Davis now has a place of her own. But says she is still traumatized by the sweep.
“I just want to get this over with. I just don’t want anybody else go through this,” she said.
Lau became homeless for the first time during the pandemic after losing her job in the visitor industry. She says she is not only fighting for her rights, but all homeless individuals.
“We can finally get this day to be heard because they need to be accountable for their actions,” said Lau. “These are people that are supposed to protect us … that is responsible for Maui.”
“Nobody wanted a lawsuit. What we wanted is just some dignity and respect and some safety, and treated like any other housed person,” said Lisa Darcy, founder of Share Your Mana.
A date for the contested case hearing has not been set yet.
Find the full article and video here: https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2025/01/08/maui-homeless-suing-county-over...