Rep. Marumoto to Work on Legislation to Protect Kahala

News Release from Office of Rep Barbara Marumoto

Hawaii State Representative Barbara Marumoto (R-19) is working together with other legislators on legislation that will help concerned citizens protect their neighborhoods and prevent public nuisance. The bills hold people accountable for their own personal property and encourage the aesthetic appearance of neighborhoods and are based on bills that Rep. Marumoto introduced last session. The bills this year are SB 2495, SB 2596, and HB 2852. Marumoto is particularly interested in Kahala.

“Many people have expressed frustration with the billionaire who has knocked down mansions, walls, and neglected landscaping,” said Marumoto. “These bills will help create a cause of action against any person who maintains a property nuisance that causes injury or damage to the person or property of another person.”

“I believe in working together to create the best positive environment for our families,” said Marumoto. “While these bills are in response to complaints from Kahala residents and news articles about Japanese billionaire Genshiro Kawamoto arranging marble and bronze statues across five property lots, the bigger picture remains that everyone deserves to have a voice when it comes to his or her neighborhood.”

80-year-old Kawamoto has stated that he would like to establish an art museum. He spent last week directing workers to place statues of Greek goddesses, angels and cherubs on several properties. Though not included in Marumoto's 2011 bills, there is a new subsection on the list of definitions to include depictions of nudity and indecency. These would constitute a petty misdemeanor. A person commits the offense of displaying indecent matter if the objects are visible from any street, highway, or public sidewalk.

Though not a big problem in Kahala, the nuisance bills would also include "abandoned, wrecked, or dismantled motor vehicles or boats; automotive parts and equipment, appliances and furniture; containers, packing materials, scrap metal, wood, building materials, concrete masonry, litter, garbage, junk, rubbish, and debris; sand, gravel or concrete on property; standing or stagnant water allowing vermin and insects to breed; attracting and providing a place of temporary abode to vagrants, interlopers, or trespassers."

Click here to read the full text of proposed House Bills and related documents: Final Property Nuisance Misdemeanor, Final Property Nuisance Tort, HRS § 712-1211, SB 2495, SB 2596, and HB 2852