Work begins to remove boulder
By James Gonser
Advertiser Urban Honolulu Writer
A state consultant is expected to begin work today demolishing a 10-ton boulder that fell down a Nanakuli hillside last week and struck a house. The work also will include the removal of several other large rocks from the state-owned land that continue to threaten several homes on Akowai Road.
"We are going to be mobilizing people to get out there and take care of it," said Deborah Ward, spokeswoman for the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.
The boulder, measuring about 5 feet by 6 feet by 8 feet, slid about 36 feet down a 30-degree slope Thursday and came to rest against the back of the house of Juan and Donna Navarro.
The Navarros have not been back to their home since on the advice of the DLNR, but all the other residents of 87-1428 Akowai, a compound of 11 homes, returned after a one-day evacuation.
Stephanie Martin, who lives in one of the homes, said her family is having trouble sleeping because they worry about more rocks falling. Martin says she hopes the state can make the rocky ridge safe for residents.
"It's OK to remove the boulder that hit the house, but if they are going to go up there and start to disturb others, that could cause more to come down," Martin said. "Once it's done, it will be a lot easier to deal with, but for the long term we will try to move."
Consultant Earth Tech Inc. and Royal Contracting Co. have been hired to do the work, which is expected to take a week or two, Ward said. None of the other boulders appears to be as large as the one that already fell, she said. There is no estimate yet on the cost of the project.
A DLNR staff geologist and land agent went to the scene Friday morning after the rockslide to examine the site. On Saturday, DLNR and Earth Tech staff met with the property owner and residents to discuss their plans.
A series of accidents in recent years has seen boulders falling in residential areas in Kailua, Hawai'i Kai, Nu'uanu, Punchbowl and elsewhere. A 1 1/2 ton boulder narrowly missed a Nu'uanu Valley woman May 10 and shattered a corner of her house.
Reach James Gonser at jgonser@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2431.
