Posted on: Saturday, December 1, 2001

Waimanalo residents want crackdown on abandoned cars

By Suzanne Roig
Advertiser East Honolulu Writer

WAIMANALO — A group of residents, hoping to improve their community, will post signs picturing abandoned cars, write letters to judges urging that the vehicle owners be penalized and organize a three-day cleanup.

The residents agreed at a meeting Wednesday night to start a letter campaign to judges asking them to enforce the laws that call for a $1,000 fine and/or a jail sentence for people found abandoning their vehicles.

Until now, there has never been anyone who was fined for abandoning a vehicle, state Rep. Joe Gomes, R-51st (Lanikai, Waimanalo), said at the meeting.

"The judges just don't realize the negative effect the abandoned cars are having on our community," Gomes said. "It's a statewide issue, and it's been an ongoing issue."

The group of 15 residents met for the second time this year to discuss ways to improve the quality of life in Waimanalo and to clean up the debris and remove the abandoned cars. In September, city crews hauled away cars. But a week later more cars had been abandoned, residents said.

Organizers want the cleanup scheduled for March 15, 16 and 17 to be a community wide event. In 1998, the community organized a cleanup and towed about 420 derelict or abandoned vehicles, said Wilson Ho, chairman of the Waimanalo Neighborhood Board and a member of the community group. During that two-day cleanup, the city, the state and the Marine Corps helped.

The group Wednesday night also decided to try to get state officials to cite any mechanic businesses, repair shops or used-car lots operating illegally on land zoned for agriculture. In addition, the group members will be trying to post signs around the community of pictures of abandoned cars and information left behind as a way to shame the owners.

The group will meet next at 7 p.m. Jan. 9 to discuss the problem of abandoned cars. Anyone interested in attending should call Gomes at 586-9450.