Since two boulders crashed down a hillside and struck two parked cars and broke a window at one of the condos a week ago, geologists and structural engineers have found three large boulders above the two buildings that are causing concern because of their "apparent instability," said Harry Saunders, president of Castle & Cooke Hawai'i, developer of Lalea.

Castle & Cooke and Kamehameha Schools made the announcement at a meeting with dozens of Lalea residents at the Japan-America Institute of Management Science, a distance away from the Lalea. The two Lalea buildings, at 7130 and 7168 Hawai'i Kai Drive, each have 13 units and are closest to the hillside.

Last night's announcement capped months of concern over the danger of falling rocks on O'ahu that began when a 5-ton boulder crashed into a Nu'uanu home in August, killing 26-year-old Dara Rei Onishi.

The meeting was held amid heavy rain, which officials have said was a contributing factor in the Thanksgiving Day rockslide at 7168 Hawai'i Kai Drive.

No one was injured in that slide, but Castle & Cooke and Kamehameha Schools, which owns the land above the Lalea development, decided to hire geologists and other experts to assess the potential for more slides.

On the basis of geologists' recommendations, "we strongly urge residents to make the move," Saunders said. "We had to tell the people, we had to provide a solution. We feel it's our obligation to take care of the homeowners."

• The steepness of the slope on which the three unstable boulders sit.

• The fissures within the boulders.

• The lack of foundation beneath the boulders to hold them in place.

"These buildings are in harm's way," Hannahs said.

Saunders and Hamilton McCubbin, Kamehameha Schools chief executive officer, told the residents they would be moved temporarily and the cost picked up by Castle & Cooke and Kamehameha Schools.

The two said more surveys and assessments would be made, and could not say when it would be safe for the residents to return home. Once the studies are completed, they said, a plan will be developed to prevent rockslides.

Saunders said residents in Lalea's other buildings are not being asked to leave because the geologists have said the structures are not at risk.

After the meeting, the mood was somber. While residents were grateful at the efforts of Castle & Cooke and Kamehameha Schools, they were shellshocked by the magnitude of what lay ahead.

Philip S. Nerney, attorney for the Association of Apartment Owners of Lalea at Hawai'i Kai, said: "The association appreciates Kamehameha Schools' and Castle & Cooke's generous and prompt efforts to address matters of mutual concern and we look forward to resolving outstanding issues in a timely and amicable fashion."

People quietly milled about the cafeteria at the JAIMS meeting place, wondering what to do next.

Many were signing up for hotel rooms, which Castle & Cooke and Kamehameha Schools were providing at Hilton Hawaiian Village.

But pet owners were frustrated because the hotel doesn't allow dogs. Castle & Cooke and Kamehameha Schools plan to look for apartments for those displaced pet owners.

"We don't have a place to go," said Tracy Galvez, 40, whose two cars — a Honda CRV and Lexus sedan — were smashed by falling boulders on Thanksgiving. She and her husband have two dogs.

"We'll have to sleep in our cars. I'm not sure what we're going to do."

Misao Higa, 36, who lives at 7130 Hawai'i Kai Drive, echoed that sentiment.

"It's so hard because it's close to the holidays and my family from Japan was going to stay with us ... it's so frustrating."

Higa, a flight attendant, said one boulder sits right above her roof.

"We don't know what to do now," she said.

Lenora Low, 38, knew exactly what she was going to do — move, and she was going to do it last night.