|
Kokua Line June Watanabe |
Citations given for
derelict buildingsQuestion: There are two two-story apartment buildings at 1837 Kalakaua Ave. that have been vacant for the five years I have lived near them, with boarded-up windows and doors and junk and trash on the ground. Taxis and limos are using the parking lots. The buildings are an eyesore and are on the other side of the Ala Wai Canal from the convention center going toward Waikiki, which means that many visitors see the buildings as they walk from Waikiki to the center. Why haven't these buildings been razed or at least fixed up so new tenants can move in? I have heard rumors that the buildings were shut down because there was a lot of drug activity going on. Isn't it about time something is done about them? Homeless people attempt to sleep in these buildings, too.
Answer: Based on your complaint, the city issued two notices of violation to the owner, Waikiki Land LP, and lessee AMPCO earlier this month.
They were told to secure the vacant buildings and to clean and remove all litter.
City housing inspectors are familiar with the property, having received similar complaints "from time to time," said Ivan Matsumoto, chief of the city Department of Planning & Permitting's Commercial and Multifamily Code Enforcement Branch.
The problem was that "people have been breaking in," he said.
If you have any more complaints about the trash, you can call Matsumoto at 527-6341. If you suspect or observe any illegal activity, you should call police at 911.
As for taxis and limousines being there, the property can be used as a parking lot, based on the zoning code.
About forcing the owner to fix up the property, "if somebody was living there and conditions were substandard, we would cite the owner," Matsumoto said. But since the buildings are vacant and electricity has been disconnected, "we cannot tell them to fix it up and rent it or demolish it."
According to city real property tax records, Waikiki Land LP is based in California, with an address in care of Oaktree Capital Management, 333 S. Grand Ave., 28th Floor, Los Angeles.
Waikiki Land and Oaktree own several other lots in the area and reportedly are planning to develop them together eventually.
Q: Who pays for the expensive leis that the governor and lieutenant governor wear at all their public appearances? Are public funds used to buy these leis?
A: The majority of the leis are donated by various organizations or "just citizens," said Russell Pang, Gov. Linda Lingle's press secretary.
"You'd be surprised at how many (leis) come in -- people just walk through the door and want to give her a lei," he said.
Generally, people who invite the governor and lieutenant governor to make an appearance, as well as people in the audience, provide the leis, Pang said.
"From time to time, we do order some leis for special events," he said. When that happens, money allocated for the operations of the Governor's Office is used, he said.
|
See the Columnists section for some past articles.
Got a question or complaint?
Call 529-4773, fax 529-4750, or write to Kokua Line,
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
Honolulu 96813. As many as possible will be answered.
E-mail to kokualine@starbulletin.com
