HONOLULU -- The state is preparing to cut the threat of falling boulders to homes on a stretch of Palolo Valley while it faces a lawsuit by some homeowners.

One home on Kuahea Street in Palolo has been vacant nearly two years. Its owners abandoned the house in December 2007 when a boulder fell in their yard.

Neighbor Robert Arakaki has lived with that fear for nearly 50 years.

"Cause I was kind of scared something might happen, so I had all the kids living in the living room," Arakaki said.

Four years ago, a boulder damaged Arakaki's home, and the state, which owns the cliff, paid for the damage. A decade ago, the state has also bought and razed four houses considered in too much danger.

Now the state is trying a new tactic, seeking contractors to anchor a steel-cable net over the threatening boulders.

Arakaki said he hopes it works.

"If they think it's a good idea and safe, I'll go with that," he said.

The neighbors who fled their house nearby are suing the state, saying the only way the state can keep them safe is to buy out the property.

In their lawsuit, the homeowners said they hired a consultant who said the rocks up there are too big and on too sleep a slope for the hillside to be made safe.

Arakaki has his doubts, too.

"Especially the one way on the top, it is kind of scary," he said.

The state request for proposals does not include an estimated price. The state said it wants to see what contractors come up with. In the end, it could still be cheaper to buy the houses and end the threat for good.