Kaimuki residents are calling for ‘monster home' to be torn down
'It's really just a disguised apartment house with inadequate parking so as a nearby resident I think it really should just be torn down,' one Kaimuki resident said.
How can Honolulu get rid of monster homes?
'Clearly from the get go, you could tell it was in violation,' another Kaimuki resident named Kaira said. 'Can it get torn down?'
The Department of Planning and Permitting revoked the building permit for 3615 Sierra Dr. three years ago after discrepancies were found with what was being built and the floor plans submitted to DPP, which shut down construction. Then in 2024, an appeal to the building board was also denied.
According to DPP, the property owner has since filed building permit applications to comply with the ordinance, which DPP said are under review.
No word on how long that will take.
'The owner must pay a triple fee penalty for the permit, and possibly remove any portions of the work that do not comply with the monster homes ordinance,' DPP said. 'They have also suffered losses to time and money spent on the original permit, and the non-use of the current, incomplete structure.'DPP also said it has been cracking down on monster homes thanks to new laws and measures.
Since 2022, DPP stated it has revoked 17 building permits.
City Council Chair Tommy Waters is also pushing Bill 33, which would make it easier for DPP to enforce the laws and hold violators responsible.
Meanwhile, residents are still left living next to this half-constructed monstrosity. They said it's a magnet for illegal activity and an eyesore.
'I don't think you can let these houses just sit there derelict indefinitely,' Kaimuki resident Elaine Evans said.
'Unfortunately this monster home is very visible, that's the problem,' a resident named Daniel added. 'And I got to say it's just ugly.'
Check out more news from around Hawaii
Honolulu City Council will be discussing Bill 33 at its meeting on May 29.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hill
an hour ago
- The Hill
New Orleans mayor indicted on federal corruption charges
New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell (D) was indicted on federal charges Friday after an alleged affair with a local police officer. Cantrell, the city's first female mayor, is accused of engaging in a romantic relationship with Jeffrey Paul Vappie II, a police officer in the executive protection unit. Court documents allege she orchestrated out-of-state trips to maximize their opportunities to engage in 'personal activities' that cost the City of New Orleans over $70,000 in addition to travel expenses for Cantrell. Prosecutors say both Cantrell and Vappie were warned about misconduct in 2022. The Democratic mayor is in her final term as the city's leader and is now charged with making false statements and false declarations before a grand jury, conspiracy to obstruct justice and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. 'Aware their conduct violated rules, policies, and criminal laws, Cantrell and Vappir attempted to distract and impede inquiries and investigations, including a federal grand jury investigation, about the true nature and circumstances of their relationship and their scheme to defraud,' the indictment reads. 'They did this by using an encrypted messaging platform, intimidating and punishing subordinates, lying to colleagues and advisors, making false public pronouncements, harassing a o colleagues and advisors, making false public pronouncements, harassing a private individual who took pictures of them in public together, deleting electronic evidence, making false statements to federal law enforcement agents, authoring an affidavit signed under oath and penalty of perjury containing false information, and testifying falsely while under oath before a federal grand jury,' it continues. Cantrell will face charges in the U.S. District Court's Eastern District of Louisiana. This is a sad day for the people of New Orleans,' said Monet Brignac, a spokesperson for City Council President JP Morrell told The Associated Press. 'Our thoughts and prayers are with the Cantrell family as they navigate through this difficult time.' Cantrell previously alleged she was targeted as a Black woman and faced 'very disrespectful, insulting, in some cases kind of unimaginable' treatment, according to the AP.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Tampa voters weigh in on District 5 city council candidates
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – Friday is the final day for candidates to qualify for September's special election to fill Tampa's District 5 city council seat. The position has been vacant since the death of Councilwoman Gwen Henderson. The Tiger Bay Club of Tampa will host a moderated discussion with all qualified candidates, Friday afternoon. As of Friday morning, 14 candidates had declared their intentions to participate in the race. Richedean Hills-Ackbar is a lifelong resident of District 5 and believes there's been a void in the community since Henderson's death. 'She showed up to a lot of the local meetings, and she wasn't afraid to answer questions,' Hills-Ackbar said. Seven of the candidates participated in a forum at Blythe Andrews Jr. Public Library. They laid out plans for housing, business development, and funding for the East Tampa Community Redevelopment Agency. Hills-Ackbar explains, 'It's important that someone actually cares about this community, that's from this community, they actually answer and return phone calls, that their concerns are the concerns of the people here.' 'It's real hard out here, but all the elected officials get in, they talk about they're going to do something for the people, but when they get there, they don't do nothing,' describes another district 5 voter. Whoever wins the race will represent families in portions of downtown, the Channel District, Ybor City, West and East Tampa, Sulphur Springs, McKay Bay, and Palmetto Beach. 'I hope their intentions are to do their best for the community and their intentions are to serve the people of District 5. If they're not here for that, they can just keep it moving,' describes Hills-Ackbar. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Q&A with candidates in Muscle Shoals Mayoral Race
(WHNT) — Municipal elections will be held across Alabama on Aug. 26. Voters in North Alabama will be asked to decide on mayoral races, city council races and, in some communities, school board races. ⭐ News 19 is Your Local Election Headquarters! Click here for more election coverage ⭐ In order to provide voters with detailed information about the candidates running for mayor in 12 North Alabama cities, News 19 sent out a number of candidate questionnaires starting in mid-July. We are going to post the answers we received over the next 10 days. Not every candidate responded, and that will be noted. Some answers will also be edited for length, grammar or spelling reasons, but otherwise the content will be published as submitted. Viewer feedback is always welcome. Not every candidate responded, despite multiple requests from News 19 for a reply. In Muscle Shoals, incumbent Mike Lockhart is facing challenger Billy Hudson in the race for Mayor. Lockhart provided answers to the questions below, but we did not receive a reply from Hudson. 1. Please provide a short biography Lockhart: Mike Lockhart has served as mayor of Muscle Shoals since 2020, following two terms on the city council and a 30+ year career in healthcare management, including 27 years at Helen Keller Hospital in Sheffield, Alabama. A Muscle Shoals resident since 1993, he's been deeply involved in community life—volunteering through his church and serving on multiple boards. Lockhart represents Muscle Shoals across state and national municipal organizations, holding leadership roles focused on economic development. He and his wife, a retired educator, have been married for 41 years and are proud parents of two children. 2. What led you to run for Mayor? Lockhart: The current mayor at that time did not seek reelection. After serving two terms with the city council, I was encouraged to seek the office of mayor. After careful prayer and consideration alongside my wife, the decision was made to seek the position. I truly believe God opened the door for this opportunity, and I am honored and blessed to serve the city of Muscle Shoals in this role. 3. What will be your top priority if you are elected? Lockhart: We have projects that have been set in place under this administration, and I would like to see the progress of those continued and completed. Those include a comprehensive plan that has been developed and put in place, which is an ongoing 'business plan for the city'. Infrastructure needs are also addressed in the comprehensive plan and will be a focus as our city continues to grow at an accelerated pace. The city is also committed to working alongside the school system as it rolls out its' growth plan. A new compensation/ salary plan was established for employees during this administration that will need to be reviewed for adjustments, ensuring that our most valuable resource, our employees, continue to be compensated at a competitive rate. Citizens have expressed a desire for more retail opportunities, and we will continue to focus on that area as we move into the next administration. There has been an ongoing stormwater mitigation plan for many years, and we will continue to address needs there, including one large project for which we are working to secure federal funding for assistance. There is also a plan in place for the city to better promote the rich music heritage of Muscle Shoals and the entire Shoals area. 4. What are the main challenges currently facing the city? How do you plan to address those issues? Lockhart: One of the biggest challenges is addressing the growth of our city. As I mentioned above, the comprehensive plan was developed to assist with the intent to provide us with a roadmap for smart, intentional growth. The citizens have conveyed through stakeholder meetings and their involvement that while they want things such as more retail and nice eating establishments, they want to maintain the small-town charm and quality of life as we grow. The city has made great strides in the past by addressing stormwater issues in our community. As mentioned above, we will continue to prioritize and address those needs in the future. Infrastructure needs are always a challenge with growing communities, and we will continue to prioritize that area as well. 5. Do you have a personal hero? Who is it and why? Lockhart: While there are many who have influenced me in my life and helped mold me into the person I am today, the person who I would consider my hero is my wife. She is a woman of God and the biggest supporter of our children and me. She has encouraged me and supported me throughout my career. I owe much of the success that I have had in my business career and life in general to her. She is my biggest cheerleader and, most of all, a prayer warrior for our family. 6. Tell us something about you that might surprise people. Lockhart: Well, a funny story is that I tried to quit school in the 4th grade, but for some reason, I couldn't convince my parents that it was the right path to take. Maybe I should say that my parents 'convinced me' that I should remain in school. On the flip side of that, a few short years ago, I decided to enroll in The Highlands College evening program, and I completed a Certificate of Ministry certification in the spring of 2021. Through that educational experience, I was able to grow my leadership skills, providing a better understanding of my purpose, which led me on this current journey as mayor. 7. Why should people vote for you? What makes you stand out from the other candidates in the race? Lockhart: I do not consider myself a politician. I feel that a public servant is a better description. I can't speak for other candidates, but I have a genuine passion and desire to serve my city. Through the years, developing and cultivating relationships has been one of my biggest strengths. Utilizing that asset to grow successful teams has led to a prosperous career. My leadership experience of 30 years in the healthcare field and an additional 13 years in municipal government, 8 as a council member and now 5 as mayor gives me the experience needed to continue to lead our city on a prosperous path. News 19 will be posting more candidate Q&As for mayoral races across the Tennessee Valley in the coming days. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
