honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, May 20, 2001

Punalu'u fed up with danger

By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Windward Bureau

By day, Punalu'u Valley Road is a quiet two-lane street that leads to a farm community in Windward O'ahu. By night, residents say, the area is transformed into a danger zone by strangers in loud speeding cars, apparent drug deals, yelling and gunfire.

 •  What can be done?

Residents concerned about the continuing problem on Punalu'u Valley Road can call the Honolulu Police Commission at 527-6215, the Honolulu Police Departmentâs Internal Affairs Division at 529-3286 or the mayor's office at 523-4381, said Donna Woo, the State Office of the Ombudsman.

Those who live in the area, a close-knit group of about 100 people, point to one home on the street as the source of the trouble. Residents say they have put up with the problems for three years and, despite repeated phone calls to the police, nothing has changed.

Recently the Punalu'u Community Association decided it had enough and invited police, the mayor's office and various public officials to discuss the situation. Emotions ran high among the approximately 40 people who packed the meeting room at the Queen Lili'uokalani Children's Center, Windward Unit, talking about fear, lost sleep and concern for their children.

"This wouldn't be happening if it were Kahala," said Michael Malsie, adding that the community feared retaliation from the home's residents. "You don't know what to expect of them."

Residents at the home didn't reply to The Advertiser's request for comments.

The home in question sits on about three acres of land about a half-mile from Kamehameha Highway. It is one of several dilapidated houses on the property.

Last year derelict automobiles began piling up at the home. As many as 50 cars were counted in February when the city issued a citation to the tenant for illegal business on agriculture land.

Art Challacombe, with the city Planning and Permitting Department, told those at the community association meeting that a notice has been sent to the property owner and the tenant warning that a $50-a-day fine would be initiated if the vehicles are not removed. By Friday, most of them had been taken away.

The neighbors said they complained to the police Vice Division three years ago and were told that an investigation would be opened, but it could take a year or more. They wondered whether the police are doing their job.

With only three officers to patrol the area from Ka'a'awa to Kawela Bay at night, enforcement is spread thin, said Sgt. Ardi Maioho.

"This beat is the lowest in crime," Maioho said, explaining why so few officers are assigned to the area. If all incidents were called in and statistics established a need for more officers, the district could request additional manpower. Maioho said police haven't received many complaints about the home and people need to call every time there's a problem. The community also should set up a Neighborhood Watch team, she said.

Maioho suggested that residents could help police by forming patrols and being the eyes and ears for the police.

"That's an option we can offer right now," she said.

As of Friday, despite the neighbors' outrage and increased city and police scrutiny, the tenants were still on the property. Landowner Carl Baptiste said he had ordered them out by May 10.

After all, he said, they aren't even paying rent.


Correction: The state Office of the Ombudsman did not, nor was it asked to, investigate whether police were conducting an investigation into a situation on Punalu'u Valley Road. A previous version of this story stated otherwise.