A consultant geologist discovered two more boulders that are of concern above the properties on Kula Kolea Place. The geologist also determined that the boulders that came crashing down on the homes Thursday night came from private land owned by a church.
Homeowners were urged not to return to their homes, but if they do, it’s at their own risk.
The city’s Department of Emergency Management and the American Red Cross set up a shelter at the Kalihi Valley District Park for 14 people who evacuated from their homes overnight. Friday morning city officials met with those affected to discuss their options.
"Their immediate concerns right now is any possibility of future rockfalls," said Department of Emergency Management Deputy Director Peter Hirai. "Until that happens (a full assessment), we’re telling them that they should not go home and that they should continue to seek alternative housing arrangements
Meantime, maintenance crews worked to remove a 10-ton boulder that was sitting in the middle of the road.
"I had to break it down. It weighed about almost 10 tons; we couldn’t lift it with the boom truck," said John Nigro, Road Construction Maintenance Supervisor.
And while city crews removed the boulder on Kula Kolea Place because it’s on the road, the landowner of a home across the street must remove a second boulder on his own because it’s on his property. Anthony Ling wants to know who is liable.
"I just recently built this so it’s pretty devastating," said Ling. "My main concern is who is liable for the damages."
It took an hour to get it down to 7 tons before it was hauled away.
"We used the buster and whittled away at it and we got it to where it was. (At) about 7 tons we were able to hoist in the truck," said Nigro.
That’s when residents were allowed back to their properties.
"First time being back allowed into the property," said John Maemori. "Watch your guys’ step."
Maemori couldn’t believe the damage.
"I just wanted to see something that wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be – but it’s worse than I thought," he said. "That was our kitchen - it’s not there anymore."
He knows they were lucky pointing to an area where his roommate was resting when the boulder tore through the home. "Right here, he was right here covered under all this!"
They had hoped to spend the night but plans may have to change.
"Clean up, clean up as best we can and try and patch some of this," he said. "I have no words to describe this."
Next door, Dean and Cheryl Onishi were left speechless.
"Not a good scene but well just got to move on. Hopefully can be kind of repaired," said Dean Onishi. "We not going have power anyway because the main breaker box is right here the rock took out the whole power the first thing it hit."
A neighborhood that is stunned but one that is also grateful no one was hurt.
"Nobody got hurt even throughout the whole street," said Onishi.
"It’s a miracle nobody got killed over here," said Nigro.
The America Red Cross says the shelter at Kalihi Valley District Park will remain open for at least one more night.
See the original article at: KHON2 Local News
