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Fumes force
workers to leave Maui
County building

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By Gary Kubota
Star-Bulletin

WAILUKU -- Fumes from contaminated air ducts have been forcing more than 80 Maui County employees from the planning and land use building in Wailuku.

The fumes have periodically disrupted county services since last week.

The fumes caused complaints of burning eyes, and one worker with respiratory problems has been on leave since Feb. 20.

County information officer Karlynn Kawahara said the air problem occurred after a company painted the air ducts on President's Day.

She said the company did the same treatment at a commercial building in Kahului with no problems.

County officials were meeting this morning with the company to determine why there seems to be a difference in the air-conditioning in the two buildings and to find a solution to the problem.

"At this point, we don't believe there is a harm to the employees besides them being affected in the eyes. But we're taking precautionary measures," Kawahara said.

Employees have been moving out of the planning department and land use division to work elsewhere since last week Thursday; a final group of public works employees are leaving today.

Employees with the county's Land Use and Codes Administration have moved across the street to the David K. Trask Building and are periodically checking their telephones for messages. Planning employees have been relocated to the Civil Defense offices in the basement of the county building, where they are able to receive telephone calls.

Kuwahara said the county has opened the windows and turned on the fans to clear the building of fumes.