Hawaii sues homeowner after his home fell into the ocean despite efforts to save it

A dream home on Oahu’s North Shore became a nightmare when it collapsed into the ocean — and now the state of Hawaii is suing the homeowner, Josh VanEmmerik, for allowing it to happen.

Footage captured by stunned locals shows VanEmmerik’s once-luxurious oceanfront home being torn apart and swallowed by the waves.

The wreckage left debris strewn on a public beach, prompting an immediate outcry from neighbors and state officials.

The stunning footage shows Josh VanEmmerik’s oceanfront property collapsing into the waves, leaving debris strewn across the public beach. @kevin_makana_emery/Instagram

The state isn’t letting VanEmmerik off easy. According to their lawsuit, debris from the collapse — including concrete, wood and broken glass — now litters the beach, which is public land.

Officials ask him to clean up the mess and demand financial compensation to restore the area to its natural state.

“This is the beach where my daughter plays. It’s literally covered in broken glass,” wrote a local, Kevin Makana Emery, on Instagram under a video of the shocking scene.

VanEmmerik, 31, who owns a bar in Kailua, was fined a hefty $77,000 last year for violations related to erosion control at his home.

VanEmmerik bought the house for $1 million in 2021 with the listing description warning of erosion. After remodeling the property, he listed the house a few years later for $2.5 million.

Before falling into the ocean, the price recently dropped to $2 million.

VanEmmerik, 31, who owns a bar in Kailua, is being criticized for failing to prevent the disaster. @kevin_makana_emery/Instagram

The homeowner had taken desperate measures to save the property, placing sandbags, concrete and rocks in a futile attempt to fight off the encroaching ocean. But his efforts did not comply with state regulations, and officials say he failed to remove the unauthorized structures in time.

“Private landowners take a risk when they allow structures to be so close to the shoreline,” Deputy Attorney General Danica Swenson told Hawaii News Now.

The suit argues that the debris became “undesirable material” on state land the moment the house collapsed.

The state’s lawsuit claims debris from the demolition, including wood, glass and concrete, contaminated public land. @kevin_makana_emery/Instagram

All beaches in Hawaii up to high tide are public property and the state is committed to cleaning up debris for the safety of its residents.

Locals are angry, both with VanEmmerik and the state, with some accusing the government of dragging its feet.

“This situation has been going on for years. Why are you NOT here to clean this up?” Emery wrote, criticizing the lack of action by state officials.

Debris is seen littering a public beach during the collapse. @kevin_makana_emery/Instagram

Longtime residents, such as neighbor Ken Bradshaw, said the collapse was inevitable, given the severe erosion in the area.

“Erosion is going to happen … I warned it myself three times – don’t buy this property,” Bradshaw told the Island News at the time.

Now, with the wreckage of VanEmerik’s dream home washed up in the ocean, the state is moving in to clean up the mess — and make sure he pays for it.

Officials are asking him to clean up the mess and pay restitution to restore the beach. But critics say the state could have acted sooner, with some locals blaming officials for turning a blind eye to the erosion issue for years. @kevin_makana_emery/Instagram
VanEmmerik had already been hit with a $77,000 fine for violating erosion control laws and failing to remove unauthorized structures. WildPhotography.com – stock.adobe.com

Demolition crews were seen taking down the remains of the house, but the damage to the beach remains a sore spot for locals.

The state hopes to restore the beach to its former glory, but it could be a costly and lengthy process.


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Image Source : nypost.com

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