Maui County building’s
‘bad air’ spurs more tests

12 employees said they
got headaches and respiratory
problems last month

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By Gary T. Kubota
gkubota@starbulletin.com

WAILUKU >> For the second time in five months, a Maui County building will be inspected after employees reported getting sick.

This time it is the Old Courthouse Building in Wailuku where the County Prosecutor's office is located. The top floor of the building, where 32 employees work, was evacuated for about two hours in mid-June after several employees complained about respiratory problems and headaches.

A state official will inspect the air conditioning tomorrow.

In February, employees at the Kalana Pukui building had similar complaints. During an inspection an "active fertile colony" of fungus known to cause respiratory problems was discovered in the building.

The 80 employees of the public works and planning departments were relocated to other Wailuku locations.

In the most recent case, county spokeswoman Karlynn Kawahara said about 12 employees reported feeling respiratory problems and headaches and noticed a metallic smell in the building.

Wayne Steel, the County Prosecutor's administrative officer, said the smell was restricted to the top floor and was an unfamiliar smell.

County officials said the situation has not repeated itself and the employees are expected to continue working during the inspection.

State environmental health specialist Jeff Eckerd said he plans to conduct a visual inspection to see if there is any moisture in the building.

Eckerd said moisture promotes the growth of mold and mildew, which could cause allergic reactions among some people. He said people are becoming more aware of air quality problems and reporting them to state health officials.

"We have been receiving more calls," he said.

Eckerd said he has recommended that the state fix leaky roofs at the Oahu Circuit Court and Honolulu District Court.

On Maui, an architect is redesigning the air-conditioning system in the Kalana Pukui building. Kawahara said the work will take at least a couple months.

The fungus, "stachybotrys sp.", was found on the surface of a water-stained ceiling tile near lockers in the electrical area.

County officials said the fungus did not turn up in air samples but warned it could be harmful, especially if inhaled by the elderly, the young or those with auto-immune problems.