We have the highest number of HOAs in the nation which I think, just compounds the problem of affordability. Recently our HOA approved the purchase of $3000 trash cans. I don't think they cost that much. I also find a common high dollar item in other HOAs - envelopes. They charge us $5 per envelope when doing mailings to the community. That doesn't include postage.
I encourage you to attend meetings periodically to keep an eye on your money. What I find is that the board is made up of inexperienced people and sometimes power-hungry. Vendors take advantage of this situation and overcharge and underperform. For example, my HOA approved a camera system to make the community feel more safe. I asked who is going to monitor and analyze the recordings in the event of a crime. Our already complaining, task-saturated property manager said he will. He also provided 3 quotes but aggressively pushed the most expensive option. The HOA went with the most expensive option. In the course of installation the laptop that was used to control access to the gate was stolen. No police report, no intention to report. I asked why wasn't there a police report? Property mgr said no need the camera vendor will reimburse. So I asked there was a crime and no report? Isn't it ironic that the HOA wants a camera system to assist in prosecuting crimes? He tells me no worries, he was a security manager at Macy's and he tried to explain to me how the internet worked (he has no industry certs nor academic and didn't understand the conceptual OSI layers).
I left and resigned from the board.

https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2026/05/08/former-property-manager-pleads-not-guilty-647000-embezzlement-case/

with all the proxy votes under their control, it is useless and frustrating to voice dissent with ongoing policies or decisions.  you just get steam-rollered into the pavement.

ask me how I know ... BTDT.

home-owners that ignorantly mail in their proxies are at fault (a version of ainokea), and HOA policies that fine home-owners for not mailing in their proxies should be illegal as hell.  In essence, this allows the corruption to be institutionalized.  Not mailing in the proxy should be taken as a vote of no confidence in the HOA board.

/end rant

We have the highest number of HOAs in the nation which I think, just compounds the problem of affordability. Recently our HOA approved the purchase of $3000 trash cans. I don't think they cost that much. I also find a common high dollar item in other HOAs - envelopes. They charge us $5 per envelope when doing mailings to the community. That doesn't include postage.
I encourage you to attend meetings periodically to keep an eye on your money. What I find is that the board is made up of inexperienced people and sometimes power-hungry. Vendors take advantage of this situation and overcharge and underperform. For example, my HOA approved a camera system to make the community feel more safe. I asked who is going to monitor and analyze the recordings in the event of a crime. Our already complaining, task-saturated property manager said he will. He also provided 3 quotes but aggressively pushed the most expensive option. The HOA went with the most expensive option. In the course of installation the laptop that was used to control access to the gate was stolen. No police report, no intention to report. I asked why wasn't there a police report? Property mgr said no need the camera vendor will reimburse. So I asked there was a crime and no report? Isn't it ironic that the HOA wants a camera system to assist in prosecuting crimes? He tells me no worries, he was a security manager at Macy's and he tried to explain to me how the internet worked (he has no industry certs nor academic and didn't understand the conceptual OSI layers).
I left and resigned from the board.

https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2026/05/08/former-property-manager-pleads-not-guilty-647000-embezzlement-case/

I’m going to take a wild-assed guess, that you were virtually alone in analyzing, assessing the circumstances, and speaking out / opposing - from a true sense of stewardship and uprightness - in this circumstance.

Oh, there were almost certainly others who agreed with you, but said nothing.

You were likely alone in taking a stand.

If so, I can certainly empathize, as I have even seen this in church situations - where I have done the same, including resigning, after angrily confronting OBVIOUS wrongs - which should absolutely be unheard of in that space.

Later I was asked back, and correct decisions made, but not without one hell of a fight - which should have never occurred, were it not for the legions of bad actors all over the place nowadays.

Good on you - that’s a man’s job in this world.

There are many HOA horror stories.

My friends building in Makiki. They were missing money from their reserves and the manager who was in charge of it disapeared.  His office was also "robbed" of all important documents.  So they had a special assessment to do reapirs that were needed.

My client was paid to be the grounds keeper. The board went with someone who was more expensive cause he's the new presidents firend.  At least my client lived on the property, so she had pride in her work.

My friends condo banned dogs when the new president took over. He's not dog friendly.  Quit shortly after the ban was passed.

Some condo's also don't take in the required reserves because that means they have to raise maintanance fees.  Which everyone will complain about and they won't be re-elected.  The city/state doesn't enforce this either.  Which is why you see many older condos hit with huge maintance fee increases, on top of what's needed for the increased insurance cost.  These older buildings need major updates to the plumbing.

The board is a thankless and unpaid job.  Some join with alterior motives.  Say they want to push no pets allowed or pets allowed, pay their friends, etc...

What's interesting is that AOAO fees for condos in Vegas are much less than Hawaii. Last time I checked some years ago for the condo's in Cosmo, that has included valet parkign for all residence, their maintanance fee was half of what mine is for my condo that's built in 2019.  Then AOAO fees for homes are like $50/mo.  Any that hits $100 or more is overpriced in the residents eyes.

The problem many AOAO's have is that the residents don't bother until it's too late.  Same like gun owners and bills here.  Attending meetings even via zoom takes up time and energy after a long work day.  Many don't vote for their board either.  At least my board is full of younger people who do take their job seriouslly.  They are by the book and very transparent with everything.  Our maint fee went up only 4% this year and we have been collecting the requried reserves since the building was built in 2019.

Get out now. Real estate values are about to be chopped in half across the world, and toxic markets like oahu condos are going to get hit even harder

Get out now. Real estate values are about to be chopped in half across the world, and toxic markets like oahu condos are going to get hit even harder

“When there is blood in the streets, buy property”
                                    Rothschild

“When there is blood in the streets, buy property”
                                    Rothschild

That’s the plan. Reel as many suckers in as possible then crash the market and gorge on cheap everything during the blood bath.

“You will own nothing and be happy”