A judge has ruled for the Nuhou Corp. in its dispute with the last resident of the old Rice Camp in Lihu’e. There were two issues decided in Judge Walter D. Hong’s ruling Tuesday in District Court. The first dealt
A judge has ruled for the Nuhou Corp. in its dispute with the last resident of the old Rice Camp in Lihu’e.
There were two issues decided in Judge Walter D. Hong’s ruling Tuesday in District Court.
The first dealt with a restraining order against Tadeo Suemori, 78, who lives in the last standing house in the old Rice Camp plantation housing.
Suemori was in court without legal representation when he was ordered not to contact Nuhou officials and their attorney, Pamela Rask of Lihu’e, for two years.
Hong first asked Suemori Tuesday if he wanted a postponement of one week to obtain an attorney to represent him.
Suemori, facing eviction from the house he was born in nearly 79 years ago, initially said yes. But then Hong told him if he didn’t have an attorney in one week, Suemori would be assessed the costs of another postponement. Nuhou had five witnesses slated to testify.
“I will continue this until next Tuesday. If the hearing doesn’t go on, I am going to make you responsible for witness fees,” Hong said.
“They got all the money and I ain’t got nothing. The court is violating my rights,” Suemori responded.
But he then decided to proceed without legal representation.
Suemori, who said later that Hong’s directive frightened him, represented himself.
The restraining order was sought after there were accusations that Suemori threatened Nuhou officials with violence in a closed mediation hearing in August.
The elderly World war II veteran denied threatening anyone and said the only weapon he owns is a bb gun.
The restraining order forbids Suemori from contacting Nuhou or Rask in any way for 24 more months.
Hong granted Nuhou’s motion for summary judgment to evict Suemori.
Nuhou bought the land Suemori’s house sits on in March of 2000. Court documents on a warranty trust deed say $10 was exchanged between Nuhou and the former owners, Wm. Hyde Rice Ltd. The actual purchase price was not listed or made available.
Nuhou did repeatedly offer Suemori a reduced rent lease. He had been paying $400 per month, but Nuhou offered him a lease for $100 per month, first for one year and then for five years. Suemori refused, claiming Nuhou doesn’t really own the land.
Despite pleas from friends and a nephew, Suemori refused to sign and finally, on Tuesday, Hong ruled in favor of Nuhou, meaning Suemori must be off the land by Oct. 31.
The day after the ruling, Suemori still didn’t seem to realize the significance of Hong’s judgment.
“I will refuse to go,” he said when asked what he would do if and when he is evicted.
Rask said Thursday that Nuhou officials hadn’t authorized her to comment on the case.
Hong was a substitute judge for District Court Judge Trudy Senda, who recused herself from the case because she had been present at the mediation hearings.
Staff writer Dennis Wilken can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) and mailto:dwilken@pulitzer.net
