KAHALA, Oahu (KHON2) — It’s one of the first homes you see driving into Kahala. Neighbors say the crumbling, overgrown property on Waialae Avenue has become a magnet for trouble, and they’re pleading for something to be done.
Coming off the H-1 into Kahala, it’s hard to miss it. The property on Waialae Avenue has sat in disrepair for years now, fenced off, but wide open to problems.
“I’m pretty sure they’re going in and out on that scaffolding over there,” said Renato Equila, as he pointed out the hole in the home where he believes homeless individuals have been sneaking inside. He’s lived next door since 1969 and says he’s more than frustrated, he’s scared.
“If people go over there, live over there, they start a fire at night or anytime, especially when we’re not at home. It’s scary,” said Equila.
Another neighbor, Kurt Stevens, told us he’s seen open flames on the property.
“This is where the open fire was, but I didn’t see anyone around here,” said Stevens, pointing to charred material outside the home. “I think at one point of time the dry brush goes up and obviously being in the neighborhood, you’re only a few houses away. So it’s a little bit of a mess to come home to deal with.”
The home was supposed to be torn down four years after it was found to violate “Monster Home” rules. The property owner appealed but lost.
According to the city Department of Planning and Permitting records, a 2021 demolition permit was approved but then cancelled. The city says a new permit application on a two-story, two-family dwelling has been awaiting a response from the property owner since July, and no approval has yet been issued.
Other residents in this neighborhood tell us they would like to see this house rebuilt properly or torn down, but they say something needs to be done
“It’s such an eyesore just to drive by, but imagine having to live next to that every day. It’s heartbreaking, and it’s disappointing, really, for our neighborhood,” said Christian de Quevedo, Waialae Kahala Neighborhood Board Chair.
“We need more homes than ever in this state, and here, we have perfectly good land being taken up in a way that’s worse than just empty land. It needs to be developed. And I can give you a list of 10 contractors right now who would love to be there tomorrow developing this into another gorgeous house in our community, so there is no excuse for them to not be moving forward on this,” said de Quevedo.
In the meantime, DPP has issued multiple Notices of Violations, one for construction without a permit and another for overgrown vegetation.
The property owners now have 30 days to fix it. If not corrected in time, the Code Compliance Branch could issue a Notice of Order that carries daily fines.
City Council Chair Tommy Waters says he knows the process is frustratingly slow, but the other option, judicial foreclosure, would be time-consuming and costly.
“We tried to get the legislature to allow for non-judicial foreclosures so that we don’t have to actually go before a judge to foreclose on these types of homes. But I understand the frustration of folks. I’m frustrated as well,” said Waters.
“We’ve been fighting, not only this particular home, which was built without a building permit, but illegal monster homes. We’ve been fighting against those, and what’s happening was these illegal builders were simply avoiding the notice of violation. It was mailed to them, right? If they don’t get the mail, then they’re they’re not in violation, or at least you can’t enforce it. So I passed, drafted and passed, and the Mayor signed into law Bill 33, which allows DPP to simply post the notice of violation on the property,” said Waters. “So that should help a bit, but these things still do take time, and I do understand the frustration, but it’s a step in the right direction.”
We reached out to the property owner, but have not heard back.