We spent the holidays on a vacation to Oahu. We all had high hopes for what paradise would offer us-warm weather, a dip in the ocean and fresh Polynesian food, all at the top of our list.

The last thing I expected from our time there was to be confronted with a very large homeless population. I quickly realized that Waikiki Beach is a paradise for some, a personal hell for others. We were there for a week and got to see first hand the same two dozen or so people live their lives in a four block radius of our hotel; and many other hotels and restaurants and shops that depend on tourism for their livelihood.

The folks that had full on conversations with themselves were the lucky ones, escaping into their personal realities, oblivious to what was going on around them. Others were acutely aware of what was going on-a lot of celebrating. We were there on New Years Eve and the energy was electric. I’ve always been sensitive to energy and I could feel the conflict between the fireworks in the sky and that of the homeless clashing with shop owners and local police. We figured more than half of the emergency responders’ time was spent on drug overdoses and disturbing the peace arrests.

One of three incidents that happened to my son and me on NYE was a man in a wheelchair exposing himself sitting in front the restaurant we were trying to enter. It was so strange. When we averted our eyes, he threw a water bottle in our direction as if to scream “look at me!”

In the moment, I wanted to get my kid out of that situation as fast as possible. But looking back, I can fully understand his frustration and torment. He wanted to be seen. Among all of the merriment and gatherings, he was alone, on the street.

If there is one population that feels invisible more than any other, it is the homeless population. How many of us avert our eyes, press on, don’t stop, or cross the street to avoid? I know I’ve done it. And then I’m always disappointed in myself afterward. It’s highly unlikely that they are dangerous. Yes maybe, if they are strung out and looking for money for another fix but for the most part, not really.

That man in the wheelchair will stick with me for more than one reason but mostly because it was the first time I stopped to really consider his plight and his suffering. They are all suffering

Do I have the answers to solve or even help this problem? No. But awareness of anything is the first step and I can’t unsee the crisis that is every person living on the street, in any city, including one in paradise.