Big waves approach the beach of Nazare, Portugal, Tuesday, March 26, 2024. The high waves were caused by strong winds at one of the world's most popular surf spots. (Photo by Michael Probst/AP Photo)

Maddy the toy poodle relaxes in her patriotically decorated wagon during the 17th annual Fourth of July Pet Parade in Salisbury, Massachusetts, on July 4, 2024. The event is run by the Salisbury beach partnership. (Photo by Joseph Prezioso/AFP Photo)

Clemence Vieira of France saves the ball during the women's pool C beach volleyball match between Germany and France at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, on July 28, 2024. (Photo by Xinhua News Agency/Rex Features/Shutterstock)

Hawaii has long been known as a tropical paradise, but in recent years another image has intruded into the state's carefully crafted one of idyllic beaches and relaxing resorts: homelessness. The number of homeless people has grown in recent years, leaving the state with 487 homeless per 100,000 people, the nation's highest rate per capita, above New York and Nevada, according to federal statistics. Many of the homeless, however, defy the stereotype of the mentally ill or drug addicted. They are families, with men and women who work full-time jobs. They are struggling to get a foothold in a place with a high cost of living and low wages. Here: in this Thursday, August 27, 2015 photo, a homeless man drinks water while sitting on the beach at Ala Moana Beach Park located near Waikiki in Honolulu. (Photo by Jae C. Hong/AP Photo)

A woman falls while slipping on ice during freezing rain on Roosevelt Island, a borough of Manhattan, in New York January 5, 2014. New York City was hit on Friday by the first severe winter storm of 2014 and was still in the grip of sub-freezing weather on Sunday morning. The woman got up and walked away from the fall. (Photo by Zoran Milich/Reuters)

A general view of Uluru is seen as it rains on November 28, 2013 in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Australia. Uluru/ Ayers Rock is a large sandstone formation situated in central Australia approximately 335km from Alice Springs. The site and its surrounding area is scared to the Anangu people, the Indigenous people of this area and is visited by over 250,000 people each year. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

A local youth, front right, scares pupils on a street as he takes part in a ceremony to exorcize evil spirits and pray for rain amid the rice planting season at Pring Ka-ek village, northwest of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Friday, May 22, 2015. Cambodia is a country which heavily relies on agriculture as over 80 percent of its 14 million people are farmers, growing rice as their main crop. (Photo by Heng Sinith/AP Photo)

A storm whips through a tented area occupied by Nepalese earthquake survivors as a mother grabs her infant child and runs to find shelter in Kathmandu, Nepal 23 May 2015. Nepalese, who lost their homes in earthquake and fear aftershocks, have been living in temporary shelter in open ground which they had to flee because of the heavy rain and powerful wind. (Photo by Narendra Shrestha/EPA)