Twinkle Borge Explained

Twinkle Borge
Birth Name:Twinkle Alohalani Borge
Birth Date:15 September 1969
Birth Place:Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
Death Place:Waianae, Hawaii, U.S.
Occupation:Activist
Known For:Matriarch of Pu'uhonua o Wai'anae

Twinkle Alohalani Borge (September 15, 1969 – August 5, 2024) was an American activist based in Hawaii who was involved with Hawaii's largest homeless encampment, Pu'uhonua o Wai'anae ("The Village").[1] [2] This 20-acre property is in the back of Waianae Valley to "provide shelter, stability, and hope for up to 300 people at a lower development cost and lower operating costs and rents than conventional affordable housing." In 2020, fundraising was completed to purchase the land, and current efforts are focused to continue building the structures.

Borge was known for her work and activism at "The Harbor"[3] [4] located at the edge of the Waianae Boat Harbor on the leeward side of Oahu.

Early life

Twinkle Alohalani Borge was born in Honolulu on September 15, 1969,[5] [6] and was a native Hawaiian. She stated that her first name, Twinkle, was not a nickname but was chosen by her older sister.[7]

Homelessness and activism

Borge herself lived in the camp for more than 15 years.[8] According to an interview with Honolulu Civil Beat, Borge arrived in 2006 and "...had for years been the undisputed leader of The Harbor, organizing a governance structure that includes a second-in-command and section captains. In her role as the leader of the village, she selected 'captains' from the community to help with the camp's daily operations.[9]

In order to avoid sweeps or clearances of the village, Borge liaised with the state government which owns the land on which the homeless camp is located.[10] In 2018, Borge and others led an effort to defend the village from eviction. In 2020, the village managed to purchase 20 acres of land in order to build more permanent housing.[11] This purchase was facilitated by Cades Shutte LLC.[12]

Death

Borge died in Waianae, Hawaii on August 5, 2024, at age 54. State of Hawaii governor Josh Green released a statement praising Borge as an "incredible inspiration to so many".[13]

Honors and awards

References

  1. Web site: 2021-10-18 . Twinkle Borge is the loving matriarch and steward of Pu'uhonua o Wai'anae homestead . 2023-01-26 . . en.
  2. News: Graaf . Nicole . Homeless in a Hawaiian paradise . 2017-09-28 . . 2023-01-26 . en.
  3. News: Terrell . Jessica . 2015-11-16 . The Shepherd Of The Harbor . 2023-04-12 . . en.
  4. Web site: Cherry . Amy . 2019-08-15 . Spirit behind Hawaiian 'houseless' village could be solution to homelessness in Delaware, across US . 2024-06-17 . . en.
  5. Web site: Nakaso . Dan . August 8, 2024 . Model advocate for homeless Twinkle Borge remembered for reshaping attitudes . https://web.archive.org/web/20240822155042/https://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/2024/08/08/hawaii-news/model-advocate-for-homeless-twinkle-borge-remembered-for-reshaping-attitudes/ . August 22, 2024 . September 4, 2024 . . . Borge was born Sept. 15, 1969,.
  6. Web site: . September 11, 2024 . Twinkle Borge Obituary (2024) - Honolulu, HI . November 10, 2024 . Legacy.com.
  7. Web site: Hawai'i's Women of Influence . Coules . Ryann . Wagner . Kathryn Drury . DeJournett . Tori . . 2023-10-16 . 2024-06-17 . en-US.
  8. News: 22 Jun 2017 . Hawaii's homeless have few places to go: 'They don't know what to do with us' . 26 Jan 2023 . The Guardian.
  9. Web site: Frequently Asked Questions . 2023-01-26 . Pu'uhonua o Wai'anae . November 2, 2019 . en-US.
  10. Web site: 2021-10-28 . Twinkle Borge . 2023-01-26 . UH Better Tomorrow Speaker Series . en-US.
  11. News: 2020-02-22 . Pu'uhonua o Wai'anae buys 20-acre land parcel . 2023-01-26 . . en-US.
  12. Web site: Galarneau . Erika . 2022-05-09 . Working together with the Community of Puʻuhonua O Waiʻanae . 2023-04-12 . Cades Schutte . en-US.
  13. News: 2024-08-05 . Homeless advocate, activist Twinkle Borge dies . 2024-08-09 . . en.
  14. Web site: Congratulations to the 2021 Ho'okele Award Recipients - Advancing Nonprofit Excellence . HawaiiCommunityLending.com . 2021 . 2024-06-17 . en-US.
  15. Web site: Four unsung heroes recognized for their critical work in Hawaiʻi . . 2021-08-05 . 2023-04-12 . en-US.

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