Illegal eviction threats on rise in Hawaiʻi, groups say

Legal advocates are stepping up efforts against landlords who violate Hawaiʻi’s moratorium on residential renter evictions over unpaid bills during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Several organizations trying to raise awareness of what they describe as a growing problem of illegal eviction threats said on Tuesday that they are gearing up to take more legal action against landlords, and that government agencies should do more to enforce the moratorium established by Governor David Ige in April.

Dan O’Meara, managing attorney for the housing and consumer unit of the Legal Aid Society of Hawaiʻi, said the nonprofit public-interest law firm is getting more than 25 calls a week from renters alleging illegal harassment and eviction threats by landlords.