Dozens of tenants forced out of low-rise apartments for ‘Iolani School demolition
By Kristen Consillio
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HONOLULU (KITV) — Milton Yoshimoto has called Date Street his home for more than 50 years. But in just a few months, he’ll be forced to move.
“Well, we got to all scramble and fight for the same apartment,” Yoshimoto said.
From keiki to kupuna, dozens of families over the weekend got notices to vacate and are now scrambling to find homes.
“And when they say affordable, I don’t know what affordable is,” Yoshimoto said. “You know, it’s not affordable for Hawaii people.”
Landowner ʻIolani School is beginning a long-planned expansion, knocking down five aging apartment buildings next to the campus.
According to the school, more than 60% of the units are already vacant.
But the redevelopment is forcing Jessica Ramos’ family to make a bigger move this year to Las Vegas.
“I’m still worried. You know, there’s a lot of stuff going around in the world, but the best thing I would do is probably like move to Vegas,” Ramos said. “I know there’s more opportunities in Vegas. Anywhere but here honestly.”
Like many other kama’aina families, moving away from the islands is painful, but necessary for them to live their dreams.
“Like over here we paid $1,300, but like the two-bedroom and one bathroom that I’ve been looking at, like $2,000 that’s crazy,” Ramos said. “Like a crazy jump from what we have to pay right now.”
‘Iolani School is offering tenants up to $4,000 and help relocating to other homes. Tenants must be out by July 31.
“Some people got to decide to move to the mainland,” Yoshimoto said. “Some people got to move in with family, you know. That’s how it is in Hawaii.”
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