Honolulu City Councilman Stanley Chang’s bill that makes lying on the sidewalks illegal is being criticized for targeting the homeless.

As one man said, “We’ve been kicked around everywhere and there’s no place left.”

Of course, some who live in Waikiki said they support the measure.

Waikiki is one of several places in Honolulu where homelessness is highly visible.

Chang’s bill passed first reading with Council members Kymberly Pine, Ron Menor and Breene Harimoto expressing reservations.

Chang also defended the bill, saying it doesn’t target the homeless.

He pointed to a provision in the proposal that says the homeless are exempt from enforcement if they can prove they were turned away from a homeless shelter due to space constraints.

Photo via Flickr courtesy of Franco Folini.

—Nick Grube