Since times are tough, we've considered scrounging together the last of our savings to head somewhere warm -- like Hawaii.Unfortunately, other people have the same idea -- so much so that Hawaii is considering a new $100,000 program to fly homeless people back to the mainland. The program would target those who have come to Hawaii from the Continental U.S. and then became "stranded." Some critics say the proposal is just a ploy to get the homeless off the island, though the plan would make sense from a fiscal standpoint in that it would save on money put into homeless services.
One lawmaker expressed what we'd been thinking, telling his colleagues that people come to the island thinking they'll just be drinking a "mai tai on the beach." His implication was that this isn't true, so our alternate plan is to roast pigs on the beach and drink our mai tais elsewhere.
Are you homeless and "stranded" in Hawaii? Make yourself heard with clever signs like those in the gallery below.
Cardboard Homeless Signs
10ockergn0me, Flickr
The old "Take my wife, please!" It's a classic, though our friend here makes it his own.
brofax, Flickr
He's a crafty one. Go ahead and give him a dollar.
Bukowsky18, Flickr
See it's funny because he probably doesn't actually have a Lear Jet.
Cavecanem, Flickr
What if she's just rich? Will that work?
Cloois, Flickr
Erik Jaeger, Flickr
If only there were enough rich women go to around. Sigh.
Jwswieringa, Flickr
Honesty is not always the best policy.
nycarthur, Flickr
The Palo Alto homeless are apparently IBM people, rather than Mac people.
Oracle Omega, Flickr
Can't say this sign makes us want to give this gentleman any money.
Photonerd, Flickr


























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Comments:
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Wednesday 28 January
By Portia
This country began as a dumping ground for those that England, Ireland, and Scotland didn't want, criminals, destitute, religious refugees, etc. Have these people read the statement on the Statue of Liberty ????
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Wednesday 28 January
By Rosetta
Send 'em to the Fiji Is. Harder for them to swim back.
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Wednesday 28 January
By howard
A few years ago, Santa Barbara,CA (Santa Barbara County) got caught busing homeless to Bakersfield, CA (Kern County.
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Wednesday 28 January
By lenore
I was an honor student from grade school through college and ALWAYS had a job from age 17 on. Then Bipolar Disorder ruined my career and most of my life in my late 30s. If not for the support of my family (and not everyone has relatives who care) I never would have made it through the horrendously complicated process of applying for disability income. Despite my work ethic and years of paying taxes, I probably would have lost my $28,000 house (no, I've never lived above my means) and ended up on the streets.
Homelessness is most often the result of job loss or extended illness, not laziness or eccentrics who "want" to live that way. It can happen to ANYONE, unsettling as that thought might be. At this time more than ever, Americans must be compassionate and find solutions to poverty instead of blaming and shaming the victims of our lagging economy. Shame on Hawaii for trying to shirk their responsibilities. Those islands would be nothing but a Third World outpost if not for U.S. tourist dollars and tax support.
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Wednesday 28 January
By JoJo was a man
God loves em all no matter what color
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Wednesday 28 January
By Victoria
I live in Hawaii and I know what it is to see families of homeless people camping out on the beaches because that's all they have. The cost of living is so high there it is almost impossible for a family to make it. I am single mother and if I didn't have the help that I had I could have been on the beach with them as well at any point and I am from the mainland originally. Most of the homeless people are native hawaiians but the few surfer hopefuls or ex-military that decided to stay usually get involved in the growing problem of ice (this is some cases) so of course if you spend every waking moment trying to pay for drugs you won't be able to fly back home. Maybe they don't have a home to go back to and it's easier to stay there. My thing is don't bother me I won't bother you and for the most part homeless people here are very respectful of peoples space. I cook a lot and I used to waste a lot of food but now every morning whle getting ready for work I heat up last nights meal get it nice & hot pack it up into containers and drop it off at the beach right across from my job. I have come to know a lot of the people on the beach or parks and they aren't half bad people just in a bad situation which the way the economy is we could be in at anytime!
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Wednesday 28 January
By Charlie
Debra..I was very moved by your comment.. you are actually quite the writer. I could feel your situation as you described and furthermore, believe the depths in which you have reached have strengthened your morals to such an edge, your experiences have given you the greatest of common sense and compassion. I sense great love in you.
And to a special person such as you. This gift is truly the palace everyone wants ...and just doesn't know it. Again...thank you charles
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Wednesday 28 January
By frank
can we send the homeless blacks back to africa too? finally a great idea out of hawaii,,can we include obama too possibly?
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Wednesday 28 January
By Pam
I don't think the state of Hawaii is talking about all the homeless. I believe it is those that have been moved by a company and then laid off with no funds to return to the mainland. Nordstorms did this. They moved hundreds over to Honolulu and then in less than a year laid them off. No money to move their possesions back to the mainland and no jobs. In fact not even a two week notice just here today gone tomorrow type lay off.
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Wednesday 28 January
By ken
Maybe we should consider not reniewing Hawaii's Statehood card. Perhaps we should pull the fleet out of there and outlaw MACK A DAMIANS NUTS.
Why don't they try issuing to the homeless, new bathing suits, surf boards, and Lays.
I've never been there, can't afford it
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Wednesday 28 January
By Antonio
Although, I am not one to quote the bible, I must. "There but for the grace of God go I."
There are a bunch of idiots making jokes on this topic. It isn't funny to be homeless. It isn't as easy as just getting a job.
Sure many have drug alcohol habits. These people especially need help.
But it is still a hole they must dig themselves out of in our lousy economy.
Unfortunately, these people may or may not have family to help them out of their plight.
Not something to laugh or make jokes about. I guess people with jobs think that this can never happen to them.
They are in for a big surprise. We are all just a couple of bad breaks away from sitting next to the guy with the sign and holding up our own.
Life is like a rollercoaster ride, you have lots of ups and downs.
Many younger people believe they are immune but they will learn.
Good Luck to all!
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Wednesday 28 January
By BOB
IF THEY ARE ILLEGALS--SHIP THEM BACK TO WHERE EVER THEY COME FROM, NO MEDICAL TREATMENT AND JUST ENOUGH FOOD FOR THE TRIP, NO AIRPLANE RIDES EITHER, BOATS, CARGO BOATS...YOU KNOW WITH THIS FRAUD WE HAVE AS PRESIDETN HE WILL TAKE BETTER CARE OF THEM THAN OUR OWN PEOPLE, IF THE PEOPLE IN HAWAII ARE FROM THE MAINLAND, THEY ARE US CITIZENS, THEN THEY STAY THERE...HAWAII IS A STATE THE LAST TIME I CHECKED. FOLKS, YOU ALL MADE A HUGE MISTAKE VOTING OBAMA IN, HE IS DANGEROUS AND HE IS A TOTAL FRAUD..MY HOPE OS TO SOMEHOW HAVE HIM AND BIEDEN REMOVED..AND I DO NOT CARE HOW IT IS DONE..THERE ARE MILLONS THAT WANT THIS, AND I REALLY THINK HIS DAYS ARE NUMBERED..
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Wednesday 28 January
By Alfie
These people are America's Refugees, we call them homeless because it makes them all sound to BLAME when we know that the (certain folks in this country sent their jobs to China and left an entire American REFUGEE population
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Wednesday 28 January
By Gene
response to Melissa...
Just came back from Oahu and Maui Christmas 08. Yes they have some drifters, but you ought to see Fort Worth, Texas where Illegal Aliens are repugnant because they are so prevalent, and truly most are now in hiding waiting for the stimulas package to save them....because they know Americans want work.
Right? Let's just see this time around.
Gene
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Wednesday 28 January
By LeeAnn
Gee, Hawaii's so called "Favorite Son Barack Obama" is all for allowing illegals to obtain social security and stay in the United States legally. Well Hawaii, as one of the 50 States, you ARE included if that passes and then you will be begging the Mainlander Citizens who happen to be Homeless to stay where they are.
Remeber that old saying.....BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR!!!!!
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Wednesday 28 January
By MaryFfff
Be sure to send them where they make those turbine propellers and other green gear. Thats where the jobs the big O says will be generated after his plan goes through. First he has to take care of ACORN. Then we have to spend money to study Global warming as if it isn't already.
Things are looking GOOD.
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Wednesday 28 January
By Dee
Doesnt the Japanese own a majority of Hawaii ?
SAD !!
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Wednesday 28 January
By Jackie Estrella
Yes, the Japanese have owned most of Hawaii for decades! You don't see many of them hanging out with cardboard signs! They are very hard workers!
Wednesday 28 January
By chuck Schumer
I think we should take a low populated state and make it a homless state because if everyone is homless--no one is homeless because no one has a home---we put up a large prison like fence and get on with our lives---with one exception--those truly with mental problems should be dealt with--but most homelessnesss is by choice.
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Wednesday 28 January
By Angiebaby
At first, it sounded a bit callous... hoisting Hawaii's homeless off on other states. But if a person goes to Hawaii thinking "fun in the sun" is the way to live, but forgets it costs money, and even more money than usual, to loaf around in Hawaii, what to do? If a person used up all their resources and wants to go back to reality (the mainland), providing them with a plane ticket back to their home state is an ideal, cost-effective solution to this problem. Hawaii is not intending to ship it's own indigent citizens to other places, only those people who migrated to Hawaii, and have become a drain on the state's resources. Not to mention, returning to the mainland is a choice the homeless transplants will have to make; they are not going to be forced to leave.
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