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Keeping Honolulu’s appearance clean for tourists should be a priority for the tourism-driven economy, but complaints highlight a deeper issue of how to transform the homeless into a tourism-friendly work force.
Visitor industry officials in Honolulu say tourists are complaining about homeless people in parks, beaches and hotels.
Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association president George Szigeti (sih-GET’-ee) tells KHON-TV that the complaints range from homeless people sleeping on park benches and in hotel lobbies to trespassing at private functions and lining up in banquet lines.
Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell says he’s received letters noting the problem.
Szigeti says the Waikiki police substation takes six to 15 complaints per day from visitors.
Szigeti says major hotels are increasing security on their property.
He says a homeless shelter at Waikiki could address the problem.
Copyright (2013) Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 
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Tags: hawaii
Photo credit: A homeless man sleeps on a park table in Honolulu, Hawaii. Michael Coghlan / Flickr