The large-scale operation involved substantial resources, including the dedicated participation of County Kona maintenance staff, a significant contingent of Hawaiʻi Police Department Community Policing Officers , and vehicles to transport refuse to county refuse facilities. Mayor Mitch Roth collaborated with Hawaiʻi County Department of Parks and Recreation, Office of Housing and Community Development and state Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement.

Belongings of homeless people were taken to a 40-foot container at a county baseyard. Photo from County of Hawai'i

    The sweep was called a "park rules enforcement operation." A statement from the Mayor's office said, ""The operation aimed to address the homeless encampments within and around the park facility, falling under the jurisdiction of the County and presenting unsafe and unhealthy conditions. Roth said, "We understand that enforcement cannot always be the answer, but we also have to ensure that our parks are safe for our local families, especially our keiki, to enjoy. Our goal is to continue working with our on-island service providers to get folks the help they need. We have made and will continue to make significant investments in addressing homelessness islandwide and are steadfast in our commitment to building a sustainable Hawaiʻi Island where everyone has the opportunity to thrive and succeed."
     Efforts by homeless outreach specialists, under the direction of Office of Housing have been ongoing to conduct outreach to individuals. According to the Mayor's statement, "Preliminary assessments indicate that approximately half of the individuals will be open to accepting the offered services."
    To ensure the proper handling of personal property that individuals cannot take with them, Roth directed the placement of a 40-foot Matson container at the County Parks' Kona base yard. "The non-perishable, non-hazardous, and non-junk property will be meticulously inventoried and stored for a period of 30 days before any necessary disposal."
    Upon completion of the operation, all encampments, unauthorized campers, and individuals establishing residence within the County park facility will no longer be present, says the County statement. "Mayor Roth's focus is on restoring the park's intended purpose and creating a safe and welcoming environment for all residents and visitors."
    The statement quotes citizen Jerome Kanuha saying, "When I look along our coastline along Aliʻi Drive, our beaches, our wahi pana, all I see is ʻopala (trash) these days, and it's just getting worse. That's not safe. It's not healthy – not for our local families, our keiki. As a community, we applaud Mayor Roth for hearing our plea and taking action to tackle this issue with aloha and humanity while putting our keiki first."

The County and partners cleaned up the beach park so that locals and  visitors could return to the facilities. Photo from County of Hawai'i

    The Mayor emphasized the importance of upholding park rules and "prioritizing the well-being of our community. This park rules enforcement operation is a testament to an ongoing commitment to address the issue of homelessness while maintaining the quality of our public spaces."
    Susan Kunz, who heads Office of Housing and Community Development, expressed gratitude for the partnership and coordinated effort in this operation. "OHCD acknowledges the need for time to allow service providers to engage with those affected and ensure housing and support for as many individuals as possible."
    The Roth administration has executed contracts with 13 nonprofits for 16 projects, receiving $7.5 million in grants through the Homelessness and Housing Fund. Furthermore, an additional $18 million has been allocated for the Affordable Housing Production Program, which is currently accepting proposals until June 30.
    The first phase of the Kūkuiola Emergency Shelter and Assessment Center in Kailua-Kona is underway, with mass grading in progress. This phase includes 16 emergency shelter units, and vertical construction is scheduled to commence in early 2024.
    The statement from the County says, "Mayor Roth and the County are confident that these ongoing programs, substantial investments in addressing homelessness and affordable housing through the establishment of the Homelessness and Housing Fund and the Affordable Housing Production Program, and the development of dedicated projects like the Kūkuiola Emergency Shelter and Assessment Center will contribute to reducing the number of Hawaiʻi Island residents experiencing homelessness and create a more sustainable future for the County of Hawaiʻi moving forward."