Hawaii homeowners report costly damage from viral door-kicking trend

A viral social media trend known as the door-kicking challenge has reached Hawaii, causing physical damage to homes and leaving residents shaken.

Authorities describe the activity as teenagers running to random front doors late at night. They deliver a heavy kick or bang to simulate a break-in and then flee. Maui Lani residents say the behavior has occurred consistently for several months. Home surveillance footage captures the incidents.

Matt, a homeowner who withheld his last name due to fear of retaliation, reported an incident at 1:30 a.m. He described the violent pounding on his door while he slept as unsettling. Matt said he spent nearly $14,000 to repair the damage and secure his property. He has filed multiple police reports and contacted his homeowners association.

Mae, a resident of Ewa Beach, experienced the trend around 9 p.m. She said the front door was kicked about five times. The force of the impact shook the entire house. Mae stated that the experience felt like someone was trying to break down the door. She said she was terrified.

Mae noted that another resident in her area reported similar events. She believes the pranks are happening frequently in her neighborhood. Like Matt, she chose not to share her full name or specific location. She expressed sympathy for other families dealing with the forceful kicks.

Matt asked the community for help in identifying the teenagers involved. He said he wants justice but also feels empathy for the individuals. He described them as kids and suggested the behavior might be a cry for help. He is not sure if that is the case.

Mae addressed the teenagers directly, saying times are hard and repairs are expensive. She called the behavior disrespectful. She urged parents to talk to their children about respecting neighbors and their property.