Calling Hawaii Condo Residents,
Aloha Community Members, Join the Movement: Stand Together for Condo Law Reform
Time for Action
Across our islands, countless condominium residents—both owners and renters—are subjected to an industry that often fails to prioritize their best interests. Self-governed associations, originally intended to serve their communities, have instead been manipulated to disproportionately benefit industry professionals. In many cases, association funds are drained under the guise of legality, yet without ethical justification.
In 2023, a westside condominium uncovered the embezzlement of over $333,000 in association funds—an alarming crime that was quietly swept under the rug. Unfortunately, this is far from an isolated incident.
Both residents and owners share the financial burden of maintenance fee increases, which impact everyone in different ways—whether through higher monthly fees, reduced property values, or increased living expenses. These rising costs place undue strain on working families, retirees, and renters alike, making it critical to address the systemic issues driving these expenses.
We urge you to join us in signing the following letter, calling on Hawaii’s legislators to recognize the urgent need for condominium reform and take decisive action to protect our communities. Visit the Condo Owners Education page for more
Outreach Letter
Aloha Legislators of Hawaii,
We hope this message finds you well and that you had a wonderful holiday season surrounded by family and friends. As we welcome the new year, we wanted to take a moment to extend our best wishes for a year filled with health, happiness, and success.
Out of respect for the holiday season, we chose to wait before reaching out again, understanding that this time of year is meant for reflection, celebration, and connection. However, as we step into the new year, we must now turn our attention to an important issue that requires thoughtful consideration and action.
With that in mind, we present the following letter, which outlines the matter at hand. We appreciate your time and attention and look forward to your engagement in this critical discussion.We reached out previously in November to highlight critical governance issues within our homeowner’s association (AOAO) that urgently require legislative attention. As a veteran, senior, and victim of fraud and embezzlement at Makaha Surfside, my experiences have exposed significant gaps in accountability and enforcement, adversely affecting homeowners across Hawaii and the nation.
Key Reforms Needed:
- Enhanced Accountability: It is essential that HOA/AOAO vendors and boards strictly adhere to bylaws and regulations. Homeowners currently face substantial burdens when compelled to seek legal recourse for basic compliance issues.
- Establishment of an HOA Enforcement Office: We propose creating an office under the Attorney General to manage HOA/AOAO governance issues. This office would conduct unbiased compliance reviews and manage enforcement, alleviating the need for costly legal battles and reducing the burden on our public court system.
The lack of efficient enforcement mechanisms has allowed minor infractions to escalate into major grievances. For example, issues such as delayed document turnover, which could be swiftly resolved by an enforcement office, unnecessarily escalate to the courts, placing undue strain on both homeowners and the judicial system.
Furthermore, we advocate for reform requiring paid advisors within HOA/AOAOs to act as mandated reporters for suspected legal violations. The 2023 embezzlement incident at Makaha Surfside, initially overlooked by condo industry professionals, underscores the urgent need for this change.
I am collaborating with local condo reform advocates, supported by HRLNG’s national research, to push for greater accountability and transparency in Hawaii’s condo laws. To move this forward, we are hosting a series of Zoom town hall meetings where legislators can hear directly from homeowners, ask questions, and discuss needed reforms.
Will you attend? Please reply to confirm a set of preferred dates/times of availability in the next 2 weeks. If you cannot join but want to engage, we welcome your thoughts and questions via email.
Why this matters: Many working-class homeowners struggle to attend hearings, and written testimony often carries less weight. Your participation ensures their voices are heard when it’s time to vote.
Your support is critical. Can we count on you? Visit our Hawaii Condo Law Reform Page for more details.
Thank you for considering this significant matter. I look forward to your positive response and the opportunity to discuss these reforms further.
Mahalo,
Kitrick Kelly, Homeowner, Makaha Surfside
Cc:
Jess Herzog, Hawaii Condo Owner, Notary Public and Member of the National Association Parliamentarians
mssc403@gmail.com (707)340-5786 www.leewardrepair.com/condo
Bcc:
Patrick Johansen, Founder, HOA Reform Leaders National Group
Facebook Group Link www.hoareformleaders.com
Fellow Hawaii Condo Advocates
(in alphabetical order by last name)
- Gloria Almendares – Waianae
- Annabelle Arcand – Waianae
- Charla Chilcott – Makaha
- Patrick Chilcott – Makaha
- Pamela Cleere – Makaha
- Shanya DeCambra – Ewa Beach
- Viki Desaulniers – Makaha
- Jane Finstron – Makaha
- Geneva Jackson – Hawaiian Acres
- William Gardner – Makaha
- Tamra Hayden – Waianae
- Dale Head – Honolulu
- William Lazu – Makaha
- Sheldon Lee – Honolulu
- Jeff Lintz – Makaha
- Angela Ruiz Lopez – Honolulu
- Paula Lyman – Makaha
- Samuel Mitchell – Makiki/Manoa
- Jimmy Ng – Waianae
- Lambert Pao – Waianae
- Ariel Phillips – Ewa Beach
- Fred Reardon – Makaha
- Jeff Sadino – Honolulu
- Lu Salter – Makaha
- Grey Schmidt – Makaha
- Brandy Schumate – Makaha
- Linda Siegel – Makaha
- Jimmy Troncoso – Waianae
- Pauahi Paula-Marie Weigand – Makaha
- Eric Zick – *Bainbridge Island, WA
- YOUR NAME HERE!
Join the Movement
Make Your Voice Heard: Stand Together for Condo/HOA Reform!
Join the effort to protect the vulnerable and bring fairness & SELF-governance back to our condo communities.
Add your name to champion change and ensure justice for all homeowners. Opt-in now – together, we can make a difference!
Already Registered? Visit the Condo Owners Education page for more
Background Information
I am Jessica Herzog, partnering once again with my neighbor Kitrick Kelly, Oahu condo owners, to spearhead a new round of communications aimed at legislators for the 2025 session. We have been successful in reaching some interested officials and need your help to make a BIG impact!
As we prepare to dispatch another series of emails, your show of support is crucial. By adding your name to the Cc: line of our final draft, you help us demonstrate the collective strength and widespread demand for reform. Our vision is to amass a group large enough to no longer be ignored—potentially hundreds strong, united by shared experiences of the challenges we face within the condo industry.
Participation is Easy and Impactful: While participating, you’ll receive updates and communications, but no further action is required unless you choose to engage more actively. Your email will not publicly listed and never shared. We will show your support by displaying your name and city included at the bottom of our communications, please join this outreach. We promise to ensure your privacy while still lending weight to our cause. Remember to include your voter zip code in your response so we can accurately identify your legislative district.
If you’re ready to stand with us and lend your name to this critical initiative, please fill out this short form and confirm your participation. Your support can truly drive the change we desperately need.
Mahalo nui for considering joining our cause. Please share this with anyone in your network who might support our efforts to bring about meaningful legislative reform in the AOAO/HOA sector.
Together, we can make a difference.
Warm regards & mahalo nui,
Visit the Condo Owners Education page for more
Disclaimer: The content on this page is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal advice. The views and opinions expressed here are those of the individuals involved and are not intended to represent legal facts or provide legal solutions. We are not attorneys, and nothing on this page should be construed as an attempt to offer or render legal opinions or otherwise engage in the practice of law. Any action you take based on the content of this website is strictly at your own risk, and we will not be liable for any losses and damages in connection with the use of our website.
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