Hawaii Homeowners: Viral Door-Kicking Trend Costs One Resident $14,000
Residents in Ewa Beach and Maui Lani report late-night disturbances from teenagers targeting random houses.
By Jonathan Hoffmann ·
Hawaiian homeowners are reporting a spike in late-night disturbances linked to a viral social media challenge.
Authorities describe the trend as a group of teenagers running to a random front door late at night. They deliver a heavy kick or bang to simulate a home invasion before fleeing the scene. Residents in the Maui Lani area say this behavior has occurred consistently for several months. Surveillance videos from local homes show teens kicking doors in the middle of the night.
Matt, a homeowner in Maui Lani, said he asked that his full name not be disclosed due to fear of retaliation. He described the noise as unsettling when it occurred at 1:30 a.m. while he was sleeping. Matt spent nearly $14,000 repairing the damage and securing his property. He has filed multiple police reports and contacted his homeowners association regarding the incident.
Mae, a resident of Ewa Beach, also experienced the trend. She reported that her front door was kicked about five times around 9 p.m. on one occasion. Mae said the force of the impact shook the entire house. She stated that the experience felt like someone was trying to break down the door. Mae was surprised to learn the trend was also affecting residents on Maui. She noted that another neighbor in her area had similar issues, suggesting the pranks happen frequently.
Mae said she did not wish to share her full name or specific neighborhood, also citing fear of retaliation. She expressed sympathy for the family in her area who faced the same problem. Mae offered advice to the teenagers believed to be behind the pranks. She said, "Times are hard. It is expensive to fix things and it’s very disrespectful." She urged parents to discuss respect for neighbors and property with their children.
Matt said he wants justice for the damage but also recognizes the individuals involved are likely just kids. He said he is not sure if the behavior is a cry for help. He is now asking his community for help in identifying the people responsible for the vandalism.
Both residents say they are monitoring their properties more closely after the incidents.
