Homeless Flock to Hawaii

Turns out surfers, vacationers, and the First Family aren't the only folks with Hawaii on their radar screen: It seems the islands are also something of a mecca for homeless men from other states. Add to the white-sand beaches the room and board for just $3 a night, plus free medical and dental care, and it's a winning proposition for an increasing number of single, middle-aged, unemployed guys who can just put together the cost of a one-way plane ticket, the director of a homeless shelter tells NPR.

At her shelter in downtown Honolulu, a third of all the guests are from the mainland, the director says, and she's not too happy that the state's taxpayers are footing the bill for the hospitality. The majority of the people who show up for lunch, an aide adds, are from out of state. "You have your locals, but not too many."
(More Hawaii stories.)