Honolulu after the fact permits

[Jerry Murphy]

Hello,

I have an Aiea townhouse. A few years back we enclosed the two car garage. We added a bathroom shower and kitchenette (no stove).  The contractor is gone. I live out of state and do not have blueprints. 

I want to get permits to turn the added units into an ADU (accessory dwelling unit). If I try to get a permit will the government of Honolulu make my life hell? I have heard urban legends of people who have had to move their tenants out and tear down the repairs and start over, and pay for demolition permits and all sorts of craziness. But the stories are all from 'someone who knew someone' or 'someone heard once'. In a sane world, the government would say thanks for helping to relieve the housing shortage that we caused with our terrible policies.

Has anyone gotten an 'after the fact' permit? If so, how horrible was it?