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- calendar_today October 28, 2026
County Issues Demands Following Downtown Hilo Fire Damage
Hawaii County authorities have moved to enforce the removal of debris and remains from buildings in downtown Hilo that were destroyed by a major fire in late 2025. Letters sent last month to two property owners inform them of legal obligations regarding property debris removal and the consequences of failing to comply with county building code regulations.
Notices Sent to Property Owners After Inspections
On September 16 and 18, 2026, Hawaii County Department of Public Works officials sent official notices to Emilia Wagner-Prekaski and Lynne Kushi, owners of properties where the fire damage occurred. Aaron J. Spielman, chief of the Building Division, and Alan Keone Thompson, chief of the Engineering Division at DPW, detailed in the letters that inspections conducted in February determined the sites to be unsafe under county code due to the presence of fire-destroyed buildings and debris.
Specific Properties Affected by the November 2025 Fire
Wagner-Prekaski owned two of the three destroyed buildings located at 193 Kinoole St. and 207 Kinoole St., as well as a vacant lot at 144 Haili St. The Lynne K. Kushi Trust owns the building at 140 Haili St., which previously housed Kushi and Kushi Attorneys at Law and Olena’s Massage. Despite the exterior walls remaining at 140 Haili St., the structure is considered a total loss. All affected buildings were two-story commercial properties hosting businesses on the ground floor and apartments above.
Penalties and Required Actions for Noncompliance
The property owners were ordered to remove the destroyed buildings and all related debris or to submit a detailed report of corrective actions, including future steps and projected completion dates. According to the letters, owners have 60 calendar days from receipt to comply. Failure to act will result in fines of $1,000 per day for each property, with payments due monthly to the County Director of Finance. The county's order becomes final 30 days after delivery, but an appeal to the Board of Appeals is permitted within that window; however, filing an appeal does not pause enforcement.
Erosion Concerns and Public Safety Measures
Additional concerns highlighted by the county involve silt fences around 193 Kinoole and 207 Kinoole St., which reportedly encroach upon the county's right-of-way and may not sufficiently prevent erosion runoff. The DPW also noted that temporary fencing does not safeguard pedestrians from potential falls due to adjacent vertical drops exceeding 30 inches along public walkways, necessitating further safety measures. Properties at 207 Kinoole and 144 Haili St. were specifically cited for potential stormwater runoff issues, and owners were ordered to implement erosion and sediment control within 30 days or risk reimbursement charges if the county must intervene.
Background and Property Values of Destroyed Downtown Hilo Buildings
The affected properties represent a range of historic structures. The building at 193 Kinoole St., built in 1941, once housed a real estate office and catering services, and had an assessed value of $843,000. Its lot now carries a taxable value of $179,500. The Goo Building at 207 Kinoole St., built in 1933, previously contained Avani Yoga and a massage studio, and was valued at $677,900 with its lot currently assessed at $112,800. The structure at 140 Haili St., built in 1931, was valued at $216,200, with the lot now assessed at $80,800. The small vacant lot at 144 Haili St. carries a taxable value of $2,000.
Attempts to Contact Property Owners
The Hawaii Tribune-Herald was unable to reach the property owners for comment regarding the county building demolition order and debris removal notices.
Source: westhawaiitoday.com.
