Twenty Waialua residents are suing over March flood damage they say was avoidable, a bad sign for Honolulu officials and Dole but a possible win for homeowners who have complained for decades.

• The March Kona low storms caused more than $1 billion in damage across Hawaii, hitting neighborhoods along streams hardest.
• Homeowners and renters are suing the City and County of Honolulu for failing to clear Kaukonahua Stream, and Dole Plantation as owner of the Wahiawa Dam.
• Residents say the stream has been choked with dirt, grass, and debris for decades, turning the storm into a wave that swamped the whole street.
• The original owner of the lead plaintiff's home warned officials about the blockage as far back as the 1990s.
• The suit points to state law requiring counties to maintain stream beds and banks, and asks for a public cleanup plan plus money for property and emotional damage.

Outlook: Dole is not commenting and the city says it has not been served yet, so the case is likely to drag on while residents are still cleaning up five months later.