Maui Judge Joseph Cardoza ordered Maui County to pay $3 million in damages for the deaths of two people who died when their car plunged from an overlook on Honoapi'ilani Highway in 2005.
The judge cited the fact that the state invited the public to utilize the overlook, which the drivers did without knowing that it was about to collapse. The state should have warned the public about the "grave danger [the overlook's] condition presented."
Denise Callo and James Makekau died when the car fell in April of 2005. The area had been used for years as an unofficial lookout area. Two others survived the fall. The 200-page opinion on the case awarded $1.9 million to the Makekaus and $1.1 to the Callos. An additional $225,000 was awarded to Tiffany Romena, who survived.
