Opinion: Beachfront Home Falls Into the Sea

Photo byJosh SmithonUnsplash

The State of Hawaii sued the North Shore homeowner after part of the home collapsed into the sea and onto state land. The homeowner is partly to blame, but the State and City that granted a permit to build the house on land close to the beach deserve part of the blame.

Many homeowners who purchased the houses along the beachfront property knew the dangers of owning a home so close to the beach. Hawaii News Now interviewed Governor Green regarding the latest Beachfront home on the Northshore collapsing into the sea and onto state land.

Hawaii News Now (source): What's being done to address the problem?

Governor Green (source): "We have a climate action team working on a package of legislation to make sure we can deal with adaption to climate change."

It was difficult to understand the specific action the state will take to address the ongoing crisis of beachfront homes slowly eroding and falling into the sea and onto state land. However, it was a chance for the Governor to bring up climate change.

So, what's being done to address many of the concerns of beachfront property homeowners on the North Shore?

Based on Governor Green's response to Hawaii News Now, no details or immediate plans were given to address the concerns of the North Shore beachfront property homeowners.

But to be fair, the homeowners knew of the dangers of purchasing property near the shoreline. The Northshore beachfront property homeowners have asked the state for help for years.

It appears the state's answer was to wait it out until the Northshore Beachfront homeowner whose property fell into the sea and onto state land stopped paying the mortgage. At that point, the bank would foreclose on the land and have the State of Hawaii take control of the land.

Final Thoughts

For prospective homebuyers who want to purchase property in Hawaii, don't build or buy a property and home close to the beach. All future beachfront property homeowners will have the same fate as the North Shore homeowner whose house fell into the sea.

Their house and land will be foreclosed because they won't be able to make payments, and the State of Hawaii will eventually possess the land.