Twinkle Borge
{{Short description|Hawaiian activist (1969–2024)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Twinkle Borge
| image = Twinkle Borge.jpg
| caption = Borge in 2017
| birth_name = Twinkle Alohalani Borge
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1969|9|15}}
| birth_place = Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2024|08|05|1969|9|15}}
| 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").{{Cite web |date=2021-10-18 |title=Twinkle Borge is the loving matriarch and steward of Pu'uhonua o Wai'anae homestead |url=https://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/the-conversation/2021-10-18/twinkle-borge-is-the-loving-matriarch-and-steward-of-puuhonua-o-waianae-homestead |access-date=2023-01-26 |website=Hawaii Public Radio |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Graaf |first=Nicole |title=Homeless in a Hawaiian paradise |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2017/9/28/homeless-in-a-hawaiian-paradise |date=2017-09-28 |work=Al Jazeera Media Network |access-date=2023-01-26 |language=en}} 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"{{Cite news |last=Terrell |first=Jessica |date=2015-11-16 |title=The Shepherd Of The Harbor |url=https://www.civilbeat.org/2015/11/the-shepherd-of-the-harbor/ |access-date=2023-04-12 |work=Honolulu Civil Beat |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Cherry |first=Amy |date=2019-08-15 |title=Spirit behind Hawaiian 'houseless' village could be solution to homelessness in Delaware, across US |url=https://www.wdel.com/news/spirit-behind-hawaiian-houseless-village-could-be-solution-to-homelessness-in-delaware-across-us/article_8c065110-bf84-11e9-8935-6b3117738d56.html |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=WDEL-FM |language=en}} 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,{{Cite web |last=Nakaso |first=Dan |date=August 8, 2024 |title=Model advocate for homeless Twinkle Borge remembered for reshaping attitudes |url=https://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/2024/08/08/hawaii-news/model-advocate-for-homeless-twinkle-borge-remembered-for-reshaping-attitudes/ |archive-url=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/ |archive-date=August 22, 2024 |access-date=September 4, 2024 |website=Honolulu Star-Advertiser |publisher=Hawaii Tribune-Herald |quote=Borge was born Sept. 15, 1969,}}{{Cite web |last=Honolulu Star-Advertiser |date=September 11, 2024 |title=Twinkle Borge Obituary (2024) - Honolulu, HI |url=https://hawaiiobituaries.com/us/obituaries/hawaiiobituaries/name/twinkle-borge-obituary?id=56272012 |access-date=November 10, 2024 |website=Legacy.com}} and was a native Hawaiian. She stated that her first name, Twinkle, was not a nickname but was chosen by her older sister.{{Cite web |title=Hawai'i's Women of Influence |url=https://www.hawaiibusiness.com/hawaii-women-of-influence-2023/#twinkle |last1=Coules |first1=Ryann |last2=Wagner |first2=Kathryn Drury |last3=DeJournett |first3=Tori |website=Hawaii Business |date=2023-10-16 |access-date=2024-06-17 |language=en-US}}
Homelessness and activism
Borge herself lived in the camp for more than 15 years.{{Cite news |date=22 Jun 2017 |title=Hawaii's homeless have few places to go: 'They don't know what to do with us' |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELp5N4_drLI |access-date=26 Jan 2023 |work=The Guardian}} 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.{{Cite web |title=Frequently Asked Questions |url=https://www.alohaliveshere.org/about-us/faq |access-date=2023-01-26 |website=Pu'uhonua o Wai'anae |date=November 2, 2019 |language=en-US}}
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.{{Cite web |date=2021-10-28 |title=Twinkle Borge |url=https://manoa.hawaii.edu/speakers/twinkle-borge/ |access-date=2023-01-26 |website=UH Better Tomorrow Speaker Series |language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite news |date=2020-02-22 |title=Pu'uhonua o Wai'anae buys 20-acre land parcel |url=https://www.staradvertiser.com/2020/02/22/hawaii-news/newswatch/puuhonua-o-waianae-buys-20-acre-land-parcel/ |access-date=2023-01-26 |work=Honolulu Star-Advertiser |language=en-US}} This purchase was facilitated by Cades Shutte LLC.{{Cite web |last=Galarneau |first=Erika |date=2022-05-09 |title=Working together with the Community of Puʻuhonua O Waiʻanae |url=https://www.cades.com/2022/05/09/working-together-with-the-community-of-puʻuhonua-o-waiʻanae/ |access-date=2023-04-12 |website=Cades Schutte |language=en-US}}
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".{{Cite news |date=2024-08-05 |title=Homeless advocate, activist Twinkle Borge dies |url=https://www.staradvertiser.com/2024/08/05/breaking-news/homeless-advocate-activist-twinkle-borge-dies/ |access-date=2024-08-09 |work=Honolulu Star-Advertiser |language=en}}
Honors and awards
- In 2021, Borge was the recipient of the Hookele Award which honors leaders from the nonprofit sector.{{Cite web |title=Congratulations to the 2021 Ho'okele Award Recipients - Advancing Nonprofit Excellence |url=https://hawaiicommunitylending.com/news/congratulations-to-the-2021-hookele-award-recipients-advancing-nonprofit-excellence/ |website=HawaiiCommunityLending.com |date=2021 |access-date=2024-06-17 |language=en-US}}
- On August 21, 2021, Borge received the Ulu Hana: Pewa Award from the Partners In Development Foundation in recognition of "individual leaders who have made a significant difference in addressing and supporting critical community needs or challenges within the state of Hawaii".{{Cite web |title=Four unsung heroes recognized for their critical work in Hawaiʻi |url=https://pidf.org/four-unsung-heroes-recognized-for-their-critical-work-in-hawai%ca%bbi/ |website=Partners In Development Foundation |date=2021-08-05 |access-date=2023-04-12 |language=en-US}}
- In 2023, Borge was included in the list of Hawaii's Women of Influence by Hawaii Business magazine.
References
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Category:21st-century American people
Category:21st-century American women
Category:Activists from Hawaii
Category:American homeless people