Potential Squatter in Waikiki

[Katrina Cabral]

Aloha. I think I made a very bad mistake. An acquaintance has been having a hard time finding housing and employment since her move to Hawaii last June. She has bounced around in different Airbnb’s and long term hotel stays. I have a big place and invited her to stay with me for free. Naturally, she accepted. And then things went south rather rapidly after she moved in. Last night she went a little crazy and frankly, I’m worried that she might be nuts. Or she’s trying to pull something over on me. There is nothing in writing except text messages. She was talking nonsensical and ‘threatening’ that she’s moving out ‘ASAP, and ‘tomorrow’ which I suspect is totally bogus and at this point would be wonderful but I’m sure it’s an idol threat. She said a lot of other things but the thing that perked my ear is that she said “I knew I should have gotten a real estate attorney.” Her mom is a real estate attorney, BTW.

Now I’m terrified that with Hawaii’s landlord tenant laws that I have just inherited a permanent room mate. I was supposed to fly back to California today but am afraid to leave for fear she may change the locks and evict me from my own place. Soooooooo, how bad is it? How much of a pickle have I gotten myself in to? And is there an easy way out? 

No good deed goes unpunished.