Derelict Oahu property demolished, City negotiating payment to owner

MAKIKI, Hawaii (KHON2) — A health and safety problem along with a whole lot of garbage is how Makiki residents described a property on Pensacola Street for decades, but it is finally being taken care of.

Officials said violations issued to the property owner of two homes on Pensacola Street date back to 2001 and total over $1 million in fines. Area residents are happy that it is finally being demolished.

“Well, a huge relief for one, because we’ve been complaining about it for so long,” Makiki Neighborhood Board chair Nathaniel Char said. “Neighbors could see in and they’re like, ‘Yeah the rubbish is stacked like to within a foot of the ceiling.'”

The City hired a contractor to clean up the property in 2018 but said it quickly fell back into a similar state. After a fire in 2020 and ongoing health concerns over rodents, unsanitary conditions and squatters, the City began the condemnation process in 2023.

“In April of this year, the City took possession and control and since then we have hired this contractor, R.H.S. Lee,” Department of Planning and Permitting director Dawn Takeuchi Apuna said. “to demolish and remove all of the junks on the property.”

There is literally tons and tons of trash that needs to be removed at a cost of around $60,000.

“We’re working on that to determine if we’re able to recoup that cost from the owner,” Apuna said.

Folks on either side complained about rats, mosquitoes, that sort of thing,” Char said. “The smell!”

Officials expect demolition to take about five days if the weather allows and plan to build affordable housing units after all of the garbage is out. Work started on Thursday, Aug. 22 but the City does not own the property quite yet.

“Roland Yee, he’s still the owner technically, but we do have possession and control and are kind of midway in the complete condemnation process,” Apuna said. “I think they’re negotiating around $1.2 million, around there right now to pay the owner.”

Officials said negotiations are pending and it is premature to conclude how the owners outstanding fines will affect the payment he receives.