Standoff erupts at Union Plaza as fumigation plans spark eviction fears

News admin July 31, 2026 0 Comments

Standoff erupts at Union Plaza as fumigation plans spark eviction fears

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Plans to fumigate a controversial condominium in downtown Honolulu Thursday morning ended with a standoff and renewed cries for help from residents.

Tenants at Union Plaza said more than a dozen masked men told them they have to leave to make way for the maintenance.

Because they claim their landlord has tried to kick them out illegally in the past, residents feared the fumigation was a guise to get them out.

Some residents refused to vacate, and one man flashed a knife at a Hawaii News Now camera, appearing to demonstrate his resistance.

Tensions escalated when a worker drilled locks into a door and secured it.

Laulani Teale, a tenants advocate, rushed to the property, saying “We were called in by a tenant.”

While there, Teale confronted the man securing the door and recorded a video of the encounter on her phone.

The man told Teale, “You need to get out of my way… You can’t touch me,” which she denied doing.

Resident Angelo Carpenter was not home when the workers arrived, and got home after the door was locked.

“I was actually down at Safeway, I don’t even know. I was coming back to try to get to my stuff. I haven’t even gotten to my stuff in my unit. My bed, my clothes, my hammock, so even if I wanted to find a spot outside right now, I have nothing,” Carpenter said.

HNN has covered the conflict at Union Plaza several times since the end of September, when tenants were shocked upon receiving eviction notices.

Ever since, HNN reported on claims of a power and water shutoff, legal threats, as well as accusations of crime and drug use at the deteriorating building.

“I know a lot of things going on here are questionable, but I know everybody who is, per us, ‘in charge’ has been really trying to keep everybody safe and inside and off the street,” tenant Kris Wyman said.

After nearly a year of controversy at the condominium, a manager told HNN residents are occupying the building.

One of the owners has been telling HNN that they have been informing residents they will eventually have to leave because there are plans to convert the building into student housing.

We reached out to the owner on Thursday and are waiting to hear back.

Thursday’s incident heightened fears for residents worried over whether they will one day be permanently shoved out, including families with kids.

“I have my car, so that will buy me a few days, but it’s the other people who don’t have a vehicle that I’m worried about,” Carpenter added.

One of the managers, who did not want to be identified, said he is trying to help relocate some of the residents.