Illegal Housing, County Oversight Failures Linked to Deadly Hilo Poi Factory Fire

A November 2025 fire at the former Pu‘ueo Poi Factory in Hilo, which claimed the lives of two women and displaced over 20 residents, has exposed failures in county oversight and raised questions about illegally converted housing units on the Big Island. Despite the county’s involvement with subsidized housing on the same property, the poi factory, operating as unapproved residential units, went uninspected for years.

The Fire and Its Victims

The fire occurred on November 29, 2025, at the Old Puueo Poi Factory Building on Kekuanaoa Street. Firefighters responded to a 911 call reporting a structure fire at approximately 4 a.m. The victims were identified as 72-year-old Antoinette Amii and 56-year-old Neilla Lee, both tenants of the building. Autopsies have been performed and final results are pending, but authorities do not suspect foul play.

Unapproved Conversions and County Oversight

The Pu‘ueo Poi Factory had been converted into residential units without the necessary plan approval or certificate of occupancy from the county. Hawaiʻi County Fire Chief Kazuo Todd, prior to his death on December 14, 2025, stated that the building had never undergone a fire inspection due to the lack of a plan approval or complaints.

Adding to the concerns, the county was simultaneously providing Section 8 housing assistance to tenants in an adjacent office building on the same property, with inspections occurring as recently as 2025. County officials apparently did not recognize the illegal residential conversion occurring next door. The county maintains that inspections “apply only to the unit in the program and do not cover other buildings or structures on the property.”

Property History and Ownership

Allan Yoza’s Affordable Hawaiʻi Properties purchased the former Puʻueo Poi Factory and adjacent office building in 2018 for $228,375. The property was then transferred to AMYMDH LLC. Yoza continued to be listed as an eligible landlord for Section 8 housing subsidies even after the fire.

The property was sold to Leroy Sajulga in 2022. Sajulga stated he did not verify whether the conversion to housing units had been approved by the county.

Concerns About Zoning and Housing Shortage

Yoza has as well advertised other properties with rental arrangements that may not comply with county zoning laws, including promoting single-room rentals. The Big Island faces a significant housing shortage, with over 50% of renters experiencing cost burdens. The Hawaiʻi Housing Finance and Development Corporation projects a need for 19,000 new housing units on the Big Island by 2027.

Investigation and Aftermath

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Anyone with information about the fire is encouraged to contact Detective Michael Matsumura at (808) 961-2386 or via email at Michael.Matsumura@hawaiicounty.gov. Mayor Kimo Alameda has indicated the fire prompted a review of other buildings potentially illegally converted to housing.