Advocates braced for evictions when Hawaiʻi’s moratorium ended; the wave never came

Wiltgen said many aren’t aware that evictions have a lengthy legal process, and tenants always have an option to go to mediation. Instead, people think that there is no choice but to move out.

“What we know is that most of the shelters are pretty much filled up,” said Ray Kong, legal director for Lawyers for Equal Justice at Hawaiʻi Appleseed.

“So it’s not like there’s the extra capacity that can absorb all of these people.”

Kong said that resources are still available for those who need them. The city’s Rental & Utility Relief Program still has funds but says it might be too late for many who decided to leave.

“I expect as the months go on, we will start to hear from more service providers of people who have been displaced, and are facing difficult situations now that they’re out of the homes that they were in,” Kong said.