Reserve‑housing buyers tell Hawaiʻi Community Development Authority of persistent vibration; request independent investigation

Anna Armstrong, a buyer in HCDA’s reserve‑housing program at Ward Village, told the Hawaiʻi Community Development Authority during public testimony that her family has spent nearly eight months coping with structure‑borne vibration that left her children’s bedroom unusable and forced an early evacuation.

“I entered HCDA Reserve Housing Program believing it helped local families achieve affordable, safe, and stable homeownership. The reality has been very different,” Armstrong said. She said the Department of Health investigated and issued a noise violation and asked the board to place her family’s case on the next meeting agenda and to direct “an independent comprehensive investigation of the condition inside my unit.”

Todd Adams, another resident who testified, said he has repeatedly reported a vibration he locates at the curtain wall — the outward‑facing window wall — and said prior testing did not evaluate that location. Adams asked whether HCDA has the authority to require or facilitate representative, unit‑level testing and what methodology the authority would accept.

David Major, general counsel for Howard Hughes Communities, responded that the developer has engaged construction and operations professionals, reviewed information provided by the two owners and conducted third‑party testing. Major said the April 14, 2026 vibration testing tied to the mechanical‑room area showed readings of 0.2 to 5.3 micrometers per second squared, far below ASHRAE residential curves cited by the company, and that these results and a Department of Health review do not support a buildingwide vibration problem. “The evidence obtained has been provided to the HCDA and is conclusive that no vibration issue of any mechanical room at [Alana/Ulana] exists,” Major said.

Major told the board Department of Health noise‑branch readings of equipment‑room noise were 1 to 4 decibels over the residential nighttime standard earlier in the year, and Howard Hughes implemented additional insulation and set equipment operating limits (an 80% cap) while adjustments were made; Major said DOH issued a confirming letter after those changes and that Howard Hughes will review new evidence if it arises.

Board members and residents questioned whether prior testing sufficiently evaluated the specific curtain‑wall locations where residents say they feel vibration. Executive Director Nakamoto reiterated that HCDA has options to pursue, including a buyback process for reserve units under prescribed terms, and staff said they would follow up with residents and the developer. HCDA did not take a formal action or vote on ordering an independent investigation during the meeting.

The authority’s next steps, as described during the meeting, included further staff follow‑up with residents and the developer and discussion of buyback options; residents asked HCDA to schedule the matter for further consideration at a future meeting.

The meeting record shows public testimony and developer response but no formal HCDA determination on whether an independent investigation will be commissioned at this meeting.