Mercury found
at two more sites
on Oahu

The toxic substance is found
twice within 12 hours
in Waianae

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By Rosemarie Bernardo
Star-Bulletin

For the second and third times in a week, mercury was found on Oahu, both times in Waianae.

Police and the Honolulu Fire Department hazardous-materials team were called to a home at 86-905 Hale Ekahi Dr. at 4:12 p.m. yesterday, and then at 3:54 a.m. today to a dumpster at 86-120 Farrington Hwy., behind Waianae Mall Shopping Center.

Acting Capt. Ken Kong of the Waianae fire station said mercury was found in the bed of a pickup truck and two trash bins near the home at Ekahi Drive. Seven to 12 people may have had contact with the mercury, he said.

Solomon Brockington, a neighbor on Alamihi Street, said his 10- and 12-year-old granddaughters and others were playing with about a half-dollar-size blob in a pie pan. "They don't know the hazards of mercury," he said.

The Coast Guard, responding to reports that someone threw mercury into a storm drain near Hale Ekahi Drive, was inspecting it last night.

The mercury behind Waianae Mall was discovered by a homeless person sifting through the trash. Three empty vials, one containing two to three cubic centimeters of the substance, and packaging material were recovered, said acting fire Capt. David Mori, of the Hazardous Material Response Team.

On Friday, mercury was found in a public rest room at Waipio Neighborhood Park.