Waimalu project
vexes citizensA plan to widen H-1 has left
vacant homes open to vandalism
and noisy intruders
The state has bought homes in Waimalu and relocated families to make way for widening the H-1 freeway, but the vacant area has turned into a noisy hangout for skateboarders and others.
"It's frustrating," said resident Steve Chong, who has called the police several times after he and his family were disturbed by loud music and teenagers riding their skateboards behind a vacant church and preschool until 2 a.m. "We're sick and tired."
State transportation officials are expected to attend a public meeting at 7 p.m. Feb. 18 at the Pearlridge Elementary School cafeteria to address residents' concerns on the vacant homes and the upcoming H-1 widening project near Waimalu scheduled to start in late March or April.
The state will demolish five houses -- it has torn down three so far -- and a church and widen the Waimalu viaduct to add a sixth lane on the H-1 freeway to the Pearl City exit. Transportation Department spokesman Scott Ishikawa said the remaining lanes will be widened to 12 feet. The $65 million project is being done to alleviate backups for Leeward Oahu residents.
"This is one of the worst bottlenecks on the island," said Ishikawa.
Three vacant homes in the Waimalu Gardens subdivision have been demolished, but the state is still determining when demolition of the five other houses and church will occur.
Residents said trespassers had littered vacant homes with beer bottles, while some homeless people had occupied them since the homes were purchased by the state last year. Some residents also reported vandalism and drug trafficking at the homes.
The state recently hired security and installed better lighting after a vacant home that was set to be demolished was gutted by flames. Fire investigators considered the cause to be suspicious.
Some residents said it has been quiet since security was posted but are still worried about what might happen next.
Edward Sawamura, who lives next to the gutted home, said he is worried his home could be damaged if the other vacant homes caught fire.
"It's a potential fire hazard," said Sawamura. "If they had initially torn all the houses down, they wouldn't have had no problems."
"We need to do as much as possible to address those problems," said state Rep. Mark Takai (D, Newtown-Pearl City). "I've asked the department to demolish the homes. ... I'm just waiting for the department to get that done."
Takai also requested the state to paint over graffiti on the walls of Waimalu Grace Brethren Church and Preschool, which has been vacant since June. Ishikawa said a crew will be sent to the site to tend to the graffiti problem.
Some Waimalu residents questioned what delayed the demolition of the remaining homes as well as the start of the widening project.
Ishikawa said insufficient funding led to only a few homes being demolished. Ishikawa said the state had planned to start the widening project in September but decided to postpone construction until after the beginning of the school year. A recent steel shortage also contributed to the delay of the widening project.
Transportation officials will hold another meeting later this month with residents who will directly be affected by the widening project.