Oahu homeowner sues Honolulu over damage caused by flooding

The executive director of the Hawaii Public Housing Authority is suing the city of Honolulu after his home and others were damaged by flooding in April.

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports Hakim Ouansafi filed a class-action lawsuit last week in state court on behalf of hundreds of east Oahu homeowners that received damage to their properties.

The lawsuit claims the city failed to adequately evaluate, repair and maintain existing flood and drainage systems as residential development and public works projects progressed near streams.

Ouansafi claims the damage was caused by runoff that included wastewater and sewage that overwhelmed the city’s system.

City spokesman Andrew Pereira says the city is reserving comment on the lawsuit because Honolulu Corporation Counsel Donna Leong had not yet seen it.