Downtown Honolulu tenants at 1136 Union Mall say they’re getting traction in court even as life inside the nine-story building keeps sliding. Power is unreliable or out, elevators are down, and residents describe makeshift rooms without real kitchens or bathrooms. Judges have offered some relief, but the building remains dangerous and unstable.
Court rulings give residents breathing room
As reported by Honolulu Civil Beat, state judges have begun siding with renters in multiple eviction and trust-fund fights tied to the property. District Judge Shellie Park-Hoapili indefinitely stayed an earlier order requiring tenant Enshaquawa Moore to deposit about $837.69 a month into a trust, and paused a similar order involving Michael James. In mid-October, Judge Thomas Haia found Union Mall Development Group in contempt for failing to restore power to the DOHO Suites floor and warned further violations could be treated as criminal contempt.
City permitting requirements
City rules require permits, inspections and a certificate of occupancy before converting an office building to residential use, according to the Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting. DPP guidance says inspections can be complaint-driven — a process tenants say they’ve used repeatedly as they flag hazards and code violations.
Background: how the building got here
Earlier reporting by Honolulu Civil Beat found parts of the nine-floor property marketed as DOHO Suites while other floors were carved into unpermitted co-living units without proper ventilation or plumbing. That coverage also noted owner notices about planned shutoffs and the owner’s stated plans to renovate once the building is vacant.
Legal risks for the owner
The contempt ruling ups the stakes for the ownership group; judges have flagged possible fines and criminal contempt if orders are flouted again. Tenant attorneys say the decisions are a meaningful intervention, but wins on paper don’t restore electricity, elevators or basic safety for people still inside.
Inside the building
Residents say they haul rechargeable batteries — some over 100 pounds — to the ground floor to charge, rig showers over urinals, and run extension cords for light. One tenant reported losing 40 pounds in eight days. The Honolulu Police Department visited the property about 154 times in the past six months. Tensions rose recently when a group of men walked the dark halls, and one carried a Byrna-style projectile device.
What’s next in court
Several eviction and trust-fund cases are still active in district court, with hearings and trial dates set over the coming months. For now, the stays reduce financial pressure for some tenants but leave core habitability problems unresolved.
Why this matters
The situation at 1136 Union Mall lays bare the gap between court orders, city permitting and enforcement, and Honolulu’s unforgiving housing market. Tenants, advocates and city officials are watching to see whether enforcement and repairs follow the court’s actions — and whether relocation or renovation plans materialize.
