Punalu'u seeks city's help
By Eloise Aguiar
Windward O'ahu Writer
PUNALU'U — A drug problem that has troubled Green Valley Road for more than four years has community residents pleading with the mayor for help because they say police aren't doing their job.
Some 13 residents of the Punalu'u Community Association said they have asked Mayor Jeremy Harris to investigate, arrest and provide safety from criminal activities.
Residents said a neighbor on Green Valley Road is a drug dealer who also operates a chop shop. They said the unrestrained activities are attracting other problems and more drug dealers.
"It's like a magnet," said David Mikonczyk, president of the Punalu'u association. "The community is crying out, but enforcement is not doing anything. Now we wrote to the mayor, and the mayor has never responded."
The letters were delivered Feb. 5 by courier, but the city can't find them despite a sophisticated tracking system that logs correspondence and notifies the recipient if a response wasn't made in a timely manner, said city spokeswoman Carol Costa.
Despite the mix-up, the city has taken action on the issues, with police and the Department of Planning and Permitting continuing to monitor progress in Punalu'u, Costa said.
Last summer, the city issued a notice to remove about 50 derelict cars from the property, which she said was done.
In August, the city issued a citation for an unsafe building, requiring the owner, Carl Baptiste, to upgrade within 30 days, Costa said. The owner, who is allowing someone else to live in the buildings, didn't respond to the notice and has accrued $3,950 in fines, she said. The fine can be attached to his driver's license and vehicle registration, and, if that fails, to his property tax.
The landowner could not be reached for comment.
"We're doing everything we can by law, and we're being very responsive," Costa said.
The community wrote the letters because they think police aren't doing enough, Mikonczyk said, adding that some residents said they believe some police officers may be protecting the drug dealers in Punalu'u.
Police said anyone who has complaints about questionable police behavior should get in touch with the Honolulu Police Department's Internal Affairs.
"We have no knowledge of that," said Michelle Yu, police spokeswoman. "However, if the letter writer has information, they should call us."
Police have been active in the area, said Maj. Darryl Perry, head of the Narcotics/Vice Division. Last year, police cleared out hundreds of marijuana plants from the back of the valley.
"We continue to investigate as the complaints come in," Perry said. "We're not ignoring it."
Conducting an undercover operation is difficult because drug dealers don't sell to people they don't know, he said, adding that police must respect suspects' rights.
Copies of the letters were also sent to the U.S. Attorney, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Rep. Patsy Mink and the city prosecuting attorney, Mikonczyk said, with all leading to disappointing results.
Neither Mink nor the DEA have responded, but U.S. Attorney Edward Kubo Jr. sent a letter of acknowledgment, Mikonczyk said.
The prosecuting attorney's office called, but the person responding hadn't read the material carefully and suggested action that the community had already pursued with little effect, he said.
Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com or 234-5266.
