Historic Lihue courthouse to be used as homeless shelter

An old, vacant courthouse in Lihue will be used as a transitional homeless shelter before being converted into state offices. Under a new government program, working homeless families will stay in the 70-year-old building until they are placed in low-income rentals to be completed in two to three years. The project is being called ``Ka Uapo,'' which translates into ``The Bridge,'' to represent its function as a bridge between homelessness and renting. MaBel Fujiuchi, of the Kauai Economic Opportunity, says participants will pay rent and live in dorm-like settings, with meals to be served in he rotunda of the historic building. Fujiuchi says there are more than 900 homeless people on Kauai, up from about from about 500 just five to seven years ago.