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House Falls Into Rushing Water

Heavy Rains Pound Oahu

POSTED: 5:48 am HST November 15, 2009
UPDATED: 9:51 am HST November 15, 2009

Heavy rains brought serious property damage to Oahu this weekend.

hauula home with collapsed flooring
Part of a home in Hauula that dangled over a stream plunged in after heavy rains and strong winds whipped Oahu.
The foundation under one Hauula home gave way and half the structure fell into the stream. There's nothing left of the kitchen but pieces of ceiling and flooring that had fallen into rushing waters below. What used to be a bedroom and living room also now are in pieces in the water.

"This is disgusting," Hauula resident Shon Kaanaana said. "All our hard work. Our money is down in the river, and it's not our fault."

Neighbors said the noise of the structure tearing apart was so loud it woke them up at about 2:30 a.m. Saturday.

Debris attracted curious neighborhood children who may not realize the danger of being downstream.

The family said it bought the property three years ago and then last December had to deal with serious erosion of the stream bank. The waters over time claimed their back yard and then finally their home.

The residence was the latest casualty of the heavy rains.

Civil defense officials believe private landowners who own the stream have some sorting out to do. In the meantime, Kaanaana is frustrated and worried about what will happen if the ground keeps eroding away.

"Somebody has go to do something," he said.
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