2020-04-07 Enforcement Action to Clear Hilo Property of Trespassers -- press release

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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.