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A Palolo Valley neighborhood has endured a slow but steady underground landslide over the course of several years. This unfortunate phenomenon has resulted in buckled roads, eroded hills, sliding houses, broken waterlines, and cracked retaining walls that have damaged neighboring properties. The situation had become so dire that many residents living along the steep incline of Kuahea Street were unable to enter or live in their single-family homes.
However, after an extensive $24 million effort, the city has announced that the area on the eastern slopes of the valley, which was previously deemed undrivable, has returned to a state of normalcy. Today, the section between Kuahea and Helo places will reopen to motorists, according to the city.
The city initiated the Kuahea Street Area Stabilization Project in 2019 to protect the public and infrastructure in the area. The project involved the installation of underground tieback anchors and a soldier pile wall system within city-acquired properties to mitigate further earth movement. The city plans to complete overall stabilization efforts by the end of 2023 and will continue to monitor the land, perform repairs, and maintain vegetation growth as necessary.
The city expressed gratitude to the Kuahea Street/Waiomao Road neighborhood and the Palolo Valley community for their patience during this vital project. City Design and Construction Director Haku Milles also thanked City Council member Calvin Say for his support and assistance in providing construction updates to the community and residents of Palolo.
Despite the city’s efforts, some residents believe that the remedies came too late. Many neighbors in the Kuahea Street area have filed lawsuits against the city, alleging negligence. One of them is local attorney Michael Glenn, a resident of nearby Kuahea Place, who has been unable to return to his hillside home due to the landslides. Glenn’s property, along with his neighbors’, experienced significant damage from the mass erosion of the hillside. While the city purchased several properties on Kuahea Street and demolished them, Glenn’s property and those adjacent to it were not acquired for stabilization purposes.
In 2018, Glenn filed a lawsuit against the city and the Board of Water Supply, claiming that they failed to address issues leading to the property damage. The lawsuit asserts that the city neglected its duty to maintain the waterworks, sewage, and drainage system on Kuahea Place. Glenn’s property value has decreased by over 18% since the noticed earth movement in 2014.
Glenn’s lawsuit also mentioned other nearby residents who have sued the city and the Board of Water Supply. Some of these property owners reached settlements with the city, while others, including Glenn, are still awaiting resolution.
The Honolulu City Council recently voted to approve an $8,000 settlement for Glenn’s civil lawsuit. However, the city has not provided details on settlements with Glenn or his neighbors, nor has it addressed landslide issues in Palolo Valley or other hillside neighborhoods on the island.
Furthermore, the city is planning another project to address ongoing earth movements in the area. This project will involve the installation of a new waterline and the reconstruction of concrete pavement along Kuahea Street, from Helo Place to Waiomao Road. The city is currently in the design phase and will need to relocate utilities and reconstruct a section of Waiomao Road affected by the earth movements.
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