HONOLULU -- Homeless families in Kakaako have been successfully living in converted tour buses for two months now.

The pilot program is just part of a joint effort between a government agency and the community to solve the homeless problem in Kakaako.

The tour bus compound in Kakaako has housed 40 homeless families since Jan. 11. The buses are furnished with beds, but there is also storage, showers and a laundry facility for the homeless.

The Hawaii Community Development Authority is providing the vacant lot in Kakaako and $55,000 from its special fund to run the compound and pay for 10 staff members. However, the funding will run out this summer.

“We’re trying to solicit community support for the facets of the program that we feel businesses and area residents might want to support,” said the HCDA’s Anthony Ching.

Ching led a community briefing Thursday night to drum up support for the pilot project.

Homeless advocate Utu Langi said the tour bus compound is working and he believes community businesses and residents will come through.

“I see a tremendous turnaround in people’s attitudes towards the issue. We have to do it together. Hey, we can really do this,” he said.