Mayor: It is wrong to blame city property inspectors for Waianae mass shooting

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Some in the Waianae community are blaming poor enforcement of property laws for the tragic mass shooting. Mayor Blangiardi called together the city's top brass Thursday afternoon, a meeting that emphasized that the city's power is limited.

“There have been many misunderstandings here,” said Blangiardi. In order to give the city more power, the laws would have to be changed.

Before Hiram Silva shot and killed five people on August 31, killing three Keamo Ohana women, he had racked up half a million dollars in fines for illegal grading and dumping on his 20-acre farm property. He had also been warned that the so-called “Silva Dome” – a venue for parties and concerts – had been built illegally. He defied the city and threatened neighbors when they complained about loud parties. That's exactly what happened the night he attacked them.

However, the mayor said the assumption that the city could have closed the dome without any problems was wrong.

“We have to hire our own corporate counsel and then go to court,” he told Hawaii News Now.

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“That's the only way to get things done. It's not like the DPP (Department of Planning and Permitting) can suddenly go out and demolish someone's house – that seems to be the assumption and that's wrong.”

Blangiardi says he will approach lawmakers for the fourth time to request the ability to foreclose on certain properties whose owners do not comply with the law or are absent without going to court.

“It is a very detailed and laborious process because you cannot bring everything to court,” says Blangiardi. This is especially true for banks that hold mortgages on properties and fight for their share in foreclosures.

The mayor isn't sure there's much the city can do when neighborhood disputes escalate, but he says he's trying.

“One reason we hold town hall meetings and other things is to mitigate that,” he said. “We try to get close to people and understand their problems. If there are things, we can step in and do something and fix it.”

The mayor says he will not take any immediate action against the Silvas' property and is waiting for the police investigation to see if any lessons can be learned from the tragedy.

“We will try to protect the public as best we can. But ultimately, and I always say this, people have to take responsibility for themselves and their actions.”

The mayor agrees that a stronger police presence is needed on the West Side and will meet with the police chief on Friday to discuss the issue.

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