Kailua sinkhole reappears
| • | Hold on to that umbrella: Two more days of rain |
By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer
Kailua restaurant owner Tressa Owens hopes she's not about to live through the sequel to "Nightmare on Hamakua Drive."
In August 1998, a huge sinkhole opened up on Hamakua Drive at Hahani Street when a 27-inch sewer line collapsed. A portion of Hamakua Drive was closed for more than six months for repairs. Businesses in the area, such as Owens' Zia's Caffe, struggled to survive as customers avoided the area.
About 9 last night, Owen said a new sinkhole appeared at the same spot.
"I was sitting outside and here comes the fire department. It looked like they were looking for something. 'Oh, my gosh, no way — a sinkhole!' Tears came to my eyes. We don't need that right now. Times are too tough."
A fire official said the hole is about 2 feet wide and a foot deep, much smaller than the one that appeared three years ago. Its cause was unknown.
"We have to hope that it doesn't get like that," Owens said, with unhappy memories of the larger hole. "Believe me, my stomach dropped when I saw that."
