HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The owners of a now-closed Chinatown shop are suing the city for damages they claim were caused by the city’s public transit authority.
According to court documents, Kim and Vyna Nga Nguyen owned Mahal Kita Seafood, Tom’s Seafood and LNV Seafood for over 12 years at 902 Kekaulike Street.
They also operated a freezer warehouse on Waiakamilo Road in Kalihi that housed nearly $3 million worth of imported products for their Chinatown shop.
They claim the city, through the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation, caused them to suffer business losses and damages from 2013 to 2018.
The Nguyens allege when the city took over as their landlord in 2013 for rail construction, they were subjected to substantial rent hikes, plumbing problems and flooding issues that damaged their store and goods.
In 2014, they claim they were evicted and relocated to Kalihi. Unable to retain customers, the businesses closed in 2018.
They are now suing the city for more than $2 million.
A HART spokesperson said in a statement, “we are not able to comment or discuss active litigation.”
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