Full Breakdown
Honolulu Council Proposes Bill to Penalize Shopping Cart Possession by Homeless Residents
8/19/2026, 8:48:36 AM
Proposed Penalties for Shopping Cart Possession
Bill 53 would make it illegal to possess a grocery-store shopping cart outside the premises of the retailer from which it was taken. Violators could face fines of up to $2,000, up to 30 days in jail, and confiscation of the cart. The measure passed its first reading in early August and is being promoted as a way to curb cart theft and abandonment that obstruct sidewalks, bus stops, and waterways.
Background & Context
Honolulu’s homeless population exceeds 2,300 people according to the latest Point-In-Time census. Many unsheltered residents rely on shopping carts as mobile storage, describing them as “almost like a walker.” Retailers report that stolen carts cost hundreds of dollars to replace and that abandoned carts create safety hazards for pedestrians, wheelchair users, and drivers. In response, a Walmart in Kapolei hired a cart-retrieval service in 2024, and city officials have highlighted growing complaints from businesses and neighborhood groups.
Data & Statistics
- Homeless count: > 2,300 people on O‘ahu’s streets.
- Maximum penalty: $2,000 fine; 30 days incarceration.
- Incarceration cost: average inmate in Hawai‘i costs about $112,000 per year (? $300 per day), roughly double the national average.
- Cart replacement cost: retailers estimate replacement expenses in the hundreds of dollars per cart.
Official Statements & Responses
Police Maj. Paul Okamoto says the department sees carts as a public-health and safety issue, emphasizing that “people just throw shopping carts and trash all into the streams.” Dave Erdman, interim president of the Retail Merchants of Hawai‘i, frames carts as valuable business property that should be treated as stolen when removed without permission. The police department adds that current enforcement is limited because retailers rarely pursue theft prosecutions, leaving a “gap in enforcement” that the bill would close.
Criticism & Opposition
Critics contend the proposal criminalizes poverty rather than addressing its root causes. Opponents also question whether the fines and jail time will offset the high cost of incarcerating individuals who cannot pay.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The bill’s supporters cite the cost of cart replacement and public-safety hazards, while opponents point to the $112,000-per-year cost of housing an inmate. No source provides a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis, leaving a gap in understanding whether projected fines would cover the expense of additional incarcerations or enforcement resources.
Verbatim Quotes
- “People just throw shopping carts and trash all into the streams,” — Police Maj. Paul Okamoto
- “And people wonder why their grocery prices keep going up,” — Tim Garry, a Kaimuki resident
- “My first thought when I saw this bill was that this bill seems to, you know, want to put people in jail just for being poor,” — Jonathan Huynh, resident
- “We don’t want to see people suffering. And a lot of people think, ‘Why don’t we just leave them alone and let them stay in the parks or on our sidewalks?’ But I don’t think that’s compassionate.” — Angie Knight, former community-relations manager, Institute for Human Services
The debate over Bill 53 highlights a tension between public-space management and the risk of penalizing homelessness, with both fiscal and humanitarian implications still unresolved.
