The Honolulu City Council is moving to condemn land owned by Japanese billionaire Gensiro Kawamoto to give his Kahaluu neighbors access to their homes. City Council paving way
to homes in KahaluuBy Gordon Y.K. Pang
gpang@starbulletin.comThe Council voted 6-0 yesterday approving a resolution to force Kawamoto to sell three small parcels so the city can create public access to the driveways of five homes in the Iuiu Street neighborhood.
On Christmas Eve, Kawamoto had workers remove a driveway off Hunaahi Street that led to two homes owned by the Schade and Murakami families and put up "no trespassing" signs along the path.
Carol Asai-Sato, Kawamoto's attorney, could not be reached for comment yesterday. Previously, Asai-Sato said notice was given to the neighbors in October that they were encroaching on his property. She has said the path was necessary because Kawamoto needs to build the entrance to a residence he is building on his 130-acre property behind Iuiu Street.
For decades the families and the city believed that the roadway was public. They later discovered that the landowner who preceded Kawamoto failed to convey the property as promised when plans for a new subdivision were scrapped.
Kawamoto's Christmas Eve action left the Schades and Murakamis blocked from access to their own carports.
William Murakami, whose 83-year-old mother, Cecelia, uses a walker, said they must climb a wall to avoid the no-trespassing signs to get to their cars parked on the street 30 feet away.
Jeffrey Schade said he has been harassed and intimidated by contractors hired by Kawamoto. Asai-Sato attempted unsuccessfully to get a restraining order against Schade, claiming that it was he who harassed Kawamoto's workers. Schade called the accusation ridiculous.
Area resident John Reppun praised Windward Councilman Steve Holmes and Mayor Jeremy Harris for quick action "in stark contrast to the lack of 'aloha' exhibited by the landowner and those who would do his bidding for hire."
Besides the Schades and Murakamis, three other homeowners along Honekoa and Iuiu streets have been in similar predicaments and would benefit from the condemnations.
Holmes said land surveyors believe the condemnation will cost the city about $30 total under policies that allow property to be used for roadways to be purchased at nominal amounts.
City & County of Honolulu
