HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-04-07 Enforcement Action to Clear Hilo Property of Trespassers -- press release
Roy Takemoto
Managing Director
Harry Kim
Mayor
Barbara J. Kossow
Deputy Managing Director
County of Hawai‘i
Office of the Mayor
25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603 Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720 (808) 961-8211 Fax (808) 961-6553
KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokālole Hwy., Bldg C Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i 96740
(808) 323-4444 Fax (808) 323-4440
April 7, 2020
NEWS RELEASE
Enforcement Action to Clear Hilo Property of Trespassers
The County of Hawai`i on Tuesday removed and cleared individuals and their personal
belongings for building code violations at the property, located at 117 Punahoa Street., in Hilo
(TMK (3) 2-3-009-027), in accordance with an order previously issued by Third Circuit Judge
Henry T. Nakamoto, in Civil No. 19-1-0108, County of Hawai‘i v. Elizabeth Jerilyn Rose, Michael
Brock Ravenswing, NSHE HI FOXGLOVE LLC, and NSHE HI THISTLE LLC.
Moreover, on April 6, 2020, Judge Nakamoto granted the County’s Motion for Writ of
Attachment, Execution and Sale of the property, wherein the Court appointed Paul K. Hamano,
Esq. as the Commissioner to oversee the maintenance, execution and sale of the property.
The property is now under the custody and control of the Third Circuit Court and Commissioner
Hamano.
As a result of the order and ruling of the Court, the County erected a fence or barrier along the
perimeter of the property, along with “No Trespassing” signs.” Twelve persons living in an
encampment on the site were ordered to leave the site with their personal property and, in
addition, were issued verbal trespass warnings by County staff.
Appropriate safety measures and use of personal protective equipment (“PPE”) were used
during the operation, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There is no verifiable information to
indicate whether any of the persons on the site were infected with the COVID-19 virus. Prior to
the removal operation, County and HOPE Services Hawai‘i officials made many
visits to the property to provide outreach services to the persons living on the site.
The defendants in the civil case previously defaulted and a Final Judgment was entered on
October 1, 2019. To date, the defendants owed the County more than $200,000 (two
hundred thousand dollars) in fines and costs.
Personnel from the following County, State and non-governmental agencies assisted in
the removal operation: Hawai`i Police Department; Building Division, Department of Public
Works; Highways Division, Department of Public Works; Vector Control Division, Parks and
Recreation, Vector Control, Department of Health, State of Hawai`i; Emergency Medical
Services, Hawai‘i Fire Department; the COVID-19 Task Force, County of Hawai‘i; and
HOPE Services Hawai‘i.
For further information, please contact Corporation Counsel at 961-8251.
County of Hawai‘i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.