In The News.
LOCAL NEWS
Abandoned Ala Wai building to be turned into ‘much needed’ affordable housing
by: Emily Cervantes Posted: Jan 30, 2024
HONOLULU (KHON2) — After nearly two years of condemnation proceedings, an apartment building along Ala Wai Blvd. in Waikiki is now under ownership of the City and County of Honolulu after being abandoned for over 20 years.
The three-story building was known to attract squatters, graffiti taggers and other vandals, but officials look to transform “the property into much- needed affordable housing.”
“This was, simply put, an unacceptable situation in a highly-desired location at a time when our island’s housing needs cannot, and should not, be overstated,” said Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi.
In 2021, the Waikiki Neighborhood Board and the Honolulu City Council saw the state of the neglected building and were approved to acquire the building through eminent domain.
“In working with the Waikiki community, we believe that finalizing the condemnation was the right thing to do for the public in the use of the City’s powers and we look forward to transforming the property into affordable housing very soon,” Mayor Blangiardi continued.
Reports said the City agreed to pay $3.85 million from the City’s Affordable Housing Fund to condemn the property.
“I am so grateful that we can finally move forward with the condemnation of this property in Waikiki to create more affordable housing, while at the same time addressing the longstanding crime in the area that has resulted from years of neglect,” Waikiki City Council chair Tommy Walters said.
The City’s Department of Land Management is searching for a development partner “to transform the asset into affordable housing pursuant to a development agreement and a long-term ground lease.”
The Ala Wai affordable housing solicitation is just one of four solicitations the Department of Land Management anticipates in 2024.
Source: https://www.khon2.com/local-news/abandoned-ala-wai-building-to-be-turned-into-much-needed- affordable-housing/
LOCAL NEWS
Waikiki hotel incident raises railing safety concerns
by: Jenn Boneza
Posted: Jan 30, 2024 | Updated: Feb 1, 2024
HONOLULU (KHON2) — A frightening situation in Waikiki Tuesday afternoon after a 5th floor balcony railing at the Moana Surfrider Hotel came crashing down onto the beach.
Luckily, no one was on the balcony when it happened and no one was seriously hurt below, but it’s raising concerns. A building expert said it may be a much larger probl|em.
| ‘It was happening in slow motion,’ Waikiki railing falls off balcony |
National building expert Lance Luke was at the scene Tuesday afternoon and said it’s unsettling because it’s likely a much bigger problem.
“I think water is getting through on the top tile and penetrating to the concrete because that leaning edge which is ahead of the balcony, I could see horizontal rebar that was pretty corroded,” Luke explained. “I’m pretty sure that this is not the only unit like that. I think it’s a global thing. I’m looking the whole building.”
“Knowing that it fell without even any pressure being applied to it. What does that mean really?” KHON asked.
“That’s even scarier,” Lance replied. “Because no human forces are pushing the railing and it just collapses on its own. That means that the anchor points of that wall connected to the lanai slab is very weak. All those hotel units that have similar walls– and I’m like all those–could come down too.”
He said serious action needs to be taken. All the guests need to be notified and the hotel needs to block off the balconies until they’re inspected and deemed structurally sound.
“Not just putting caution tape, but maybe 2 X 4 and make a little structure. So no one can even go close to the railing,” he said.
In a statement, the City’s department of planning and permitting said:
The maintenance of private high-rise buildings is the responsibility of the building’s owner or management firm. However, if we become aware that a building may be unsafe, we will send an inspector to investigate. If we determine that a building is unsafe, the Building Code allows the DPP to take immediate action to protect the health and safety of the building’s residents. We may also ask the owner or management firm to provide a structural assessment report of the building for our review.
“DPP could theoretically come down and shut the hotel down,” Luke said.
Doing the necessary inspections could take a long time and fixing any structural issues would be extremely expensive.
“It’s going to be millions of dollars to repair. I can tell already but it needs to be done.”
Source: https://www.khon2.com/local-news/waikiki-hotel-incident-raises-railing-safety-concerns/
LOCAL NEWS
Waikiki railing collapse likely a bigger problem for hotel
by: Diane Ako Posted: Jan 31, 2024
HONOLULU (ISLAND NEWS) — A frightening situation in Waikiki Tuesday afternoon after a 5th floor balcony railing at the Moana Surfrider Hotel came crashing down onto the beach.
Building expert says the rusting of the railing probably started five to eight years ago.
An expert in building safety tells Island News this is probably just one symptom of a much larger problem for the hotel.
Lance Luke, owner of Construction Management Inspection, says, "I'm kind of used to seeing these kind of situations. In my opinion, it's not an isolated situation with only that one [railing]. It's probably a condition at all the other units in the hotel which should be investigated and checked."
Luke says this probably started rusting five to eight years ago.
"I'm pretty sure the attachment of the metal anchors corroded and causes the wall to fall down," he guesses, adding that it's good policy for any building with railings to have them professionally checked on a regular basis.
Luke thinks this hotel now needs to test all the railings - an expensive endeavor. He estimates the cost to replace just one railing is $20,000 to $30,000.
"It's not structurally sound and I'm pretty sure the other railings in that building have similar conditions," he says.
The City and County of Honolulu's Department of Planning and Permitting on Wednesday says it's working with Kyo-Ya Hotels & Resorts, and will send an inspector out to the Moana Surfrider.
On Wednesday, it said, "The maintenance of private high-rise buildings is the responsibility of the building's owner or management firm. However, if we become aware that a building may be unsafe, we will send an inspector to investigate. If we determine a building is unsafe, the Building Code allows the DPP to take immediate action to protect the health and safety of the building's residents."
Kyo-Ya said after the incident on Tuesday, "We are looking into an incident that occurred involving a balcony in our tower wing. We take this matter very seriously. The safety and security of our guests and employees is our top priority." It did not respond to a request for an update on Wednesday.
Luke says he never would have known by just looking at it - if the rail hadn't fallen - that there was a structural issue. His advice to anyone standing by a railing is to be on the safe side and don't lean on it.
In the meantime, this has become a story picked up by some media across the country including Forbes and TV stations in Alabama and Mississippi.
It's a little scary for these visitors from Minnesota who we met on the beach near the scene. Cathy Arriola and Lisa Argir decided, after seeing this, to not lean on their hotel railing when they return to their rooms.
They have been keeping up with the local news on their vacation and after this, plus Tuesday's barricade at Waikiki Sunset Hotel and last Tuesday's acid injury, the women are a little concerned.
"You don't want this becoming the norm. It may make people question if this is a place to go to that's safe," Argir cautions.
Arriola says if these three events happened before she booked the vacation here, "I'd have to think about" wanting to come to Hawaii.
Hawai'i Lodging & Tourism Association president and CEO Mufi Hannemann says, "The safety of our guests, local residents, and hotel associates is our visitor industry's number one priority. We encourage and know that our HLTA hotel owners, operators, and managers are vigilant in implementing necessary protocols to address any potential incidents.
"Hawai'i has long held an exemplary reputation as a safe destination, and we want to maintain that. We are confident that our hotel members consistently prioritize the assessment of their structures' safety.
"We feel fortunate that no injuries occurred during the recent incident, and we are aware that the hotel is promptly taking action to address the situation."
Island News was not able to reach Hawaii Tourism Authority for comment on this on Wednesday.
LOCAL NEWS
Railing falls off popular Hawaii hotel, lands on Waikiki beach
by: Olivia Harden Posted: Jan 31, 2024
On Jan. 30, around 1 p.m., a railing fell off a hotel balcony on the fifth floor at the Moana Surfrider in Waikiki, Hawaii, nearly missing a passerby before it fell onto the beach.
“When I went to the bedroom balcony and looked down, I saw where it landed, and I thought ‘Thank God’ because two feet either way it probably would have killed somebody,” a guest told Hawaii News Now.
The railing didn’t directly hit anyone, the Honolulu Fire Department told Hawaii News Now, but one person was treated for minor injuries by Ocean Safety and “Another person suffered a minor injury while escaping the falling railing.” Two people refused transport to the hospital, Emergency Medical Services told Hawaii News Now.
The Honolulu hotel caution-taped off a portion of the beach. It’s unclear what detached the railing. Lance Luke, a construction engineer, took photos of the fallen railing. He said corrosion was likely the problem.
“I could see horizontal rebar that was pretty corroded,” Luke told KHON2. “So I’m pretty sure that this is not the only unit like that.”
In a statement from the Moana Surfrider to Hawaii News Now, Dara Young, director of public relations for the Waikiki Collection, said the hotel is “looking into an incident that occurred involving a balcony in our Tower Wing. We take this matter very seriously.”
Waikiki Beach in Hawaii’s capital city is an extremely popular tourist attraction, generating 41% of the state’s tourism revenue in 2015.
Link to the article: https://www.sfgate.com/hawaii/article/railing-falls-popular-hawaii-hotel-lands-waikiki-18640442.php
LOCAL NEWS
National Building Expert Urges Inspections After Waikiki Hotel Railing Collapse
Posted: Feb 21, 2024
Lance Luke, a building safety expert, emphasizes the need for routine inspections and maintenance to prevent structural failures, like the recent hotel railing collapse. He advocates for increased awareness and proactive measures to ensure building integrity and safety.
HONOLULU, UNITED STATES-
In light of a recent incident involving the collapse of a hotel railing, Lance Luke, a renowned national building expert, emphasized the critical need for regular building inspections and increased awareness among hotel guests, and apartment and condo building residents regarding potential safety hazards. Luke's insights were shared during several news interviews, shedding light on the often-overlooked dangers posed by environmental conditions to building structures.
Lance Luke, with over four decades of experience in the construction industry, highlighted the phenomenon of spalling, a condition where water ingress leads to the expansion and rusting of reinforcing steel (rebar) within concrete structures, ultimately causing cracks and potential collapse. This condition, exacerbated by environmental factors such as humidity, salt air, and rainfall, particularly affects coastal and island locations where buildings are frequently exposed to harsh marine environments.
The discussion followed an incident where a section of railing at a hotel situated on the beachfront collapsed, thankfully without resulting in injuries or fatalities. This event served as a stark reminder of the latent risks present in aging structures exposed to corrosive elements. Luke pointed out that the process of spalling and corrosion does not occur overnight but is the result of years of neglect, with estimates suggesting a timeline of ten to fifteen years for such deterioration to become critical. To further educate the public and industry professionals, Luke mentioned his initiative of conducting free webinars through his platform, "Ask the Building Expert." These sessions aim to raise awareness about building safety, maintenance best practices, and the latest industry standards to prevent similar incidents in the future.
In conclusion, Lance Luke's insights from the interview highlight the critical importance of vigilance, regular inspections, and maintenance to safeguard the safety and integrity of buildings. As the industry progresses, a blend of expert knowledge, public awareness, and regulatory oversight will be essential in preventing future tragedies and maintaining the structural health of the built environment.
For more information, visit (Ask Building Expert) to access resources, webinar schedules, and expert advice on building safety and maintenance.
Contact Info:
Name: Lance Luke
Email: lanceluke@hawaiibuildingexpert.com
Organization: Construction Management Inspection LLC
Address: 820 W. Hind Drive, Suite 240275, Honolulu, HI 96824
Phone: (808)-422-2132
Website: Railing Expert
EXCLUSIVE FEATURE
Check Your Building's Lanai Railings — STAT!
By: Lance Luke March 2024 Issue
Last month there was a railing collapse at the Moana Surfrider Westin Resort on world-famous Waikiki Beach. A fifth-floor hotel room railing wall constructed of a solid concrete plank gave way and fell to the beach below. No one was on the lanai when it occurred and no one was hurt on the beach — but a woman on a lounge chair was nearly struck.
Upon inspection, I noticed that numerous anchor bolts that connected the railing wall to the balcony floor were corroded, and the floor tile and concrete topping delaminating from the concrete slab had bubbled paint on its underside. My initial thought was the floor tile grout was cracked, damaged or unsealed, causing water to penetrate into the concrete slab causing spalling. The waterproofing may have failed. The metal anchors securing the wall to the floor had severely corroded and provided no structural support at any anchor points.
This is a wake-up call to all building owners and managers to inspect and maintain railings. inspection programs should include apartment and condo structures, hotels, office buildings, shopping centers, etc. Every building owner and manager should mandate periodic inspections. Currently, there is no mandated inspection of buildings by the city, state, or federal government.
Spalling occurs when water penetrates unprotected concrete and causes corrosion of the reinforcing steel — rebar — embedded in the concrete. The corrosion of the rebar causes it to expand, ultimately causing cracks and potential collapse of the affected area. Humidity, salt air, rainfall, trade winds and sun contribute to spalling, which in turn affect buildings in coastal lo cations and exposed to harsh marine environments.
The hotel railing collapse serves as a stark reminder of the latent risks present in aging structures exposed to corrosive elements. Corrosion and spalling is the result of years of neglect and substandard and/or no repair and maintenance. Costs to repair can reach
millions of dollars.
A comprehensive building inspection program should be implemented to spot potential structural failures.
Red flags include signs of peeling or bubbling paint, rust stains and cracks on concrete surfaces, pieces of concrete falling off a building, or cracks and/or corrosion at railing post bases.
Best practices include thorough inspections at regular intervals and repairs of observed substandard conditions. It is better to be proactive rather than reactive. The next step would be destructive testing after a visual spalling-condition survey.
In 2016, a third-floor railing collapsed at Ala Moana Shopping Center, resulting in one person killed and another seriously injured. After the incident, the City and County of Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting issued a Notice of Violation for metal railing
corrosion and concrete spalling. Required repairs cost the center more than $4 million.
This tragic incident prompted Honolulu City Council to propose legislation for mandatory structural building inspections. Unfortunately, the legislation did not pass. Heavy pushback came from building owners, property managers and condo boards who feared extra costs.
Once again, City Council is currently discussing a mandatory building inspection program.
Let’s not forget the Surfside, Fla., condominium building collapse in 2021 that killed 98 people. Surfside, a Miami suburb, required only a 40-year building recertification program then. This did not make any sense due to numerous spalling conditions that are expected to occur at the 15- to 20-year life cycle of a building. In Hawai‘i, there is no mandated governmental building inspection program at all.
All building owners and property managers should be proactive and start inspection programs now.
Apartment buildings, low- and high-rise condominiums, hotels, shopping centers, office buildings, etc., all
need to be inspected.
Lance Luke owns Construction Management Inspection LLC.
lanceluke@hawaiibuildingexpert.com,
hawaiibuildingexpert.com, railingexpert.now.site
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