Gov. Ben Cayetano said the state was caught by surprise by seeping, explosive methane gas from petroleum-polluted subsoil that blocked the opening of its $14.4 million Honolulu Harbor fishing village more than a year ago. Methane problem
stumps stateThe underground gas is stalling
the opening of the Honolulu
Harbor fishing villageBy Bruce Dunford
Associated PressThe state is working to solve the problem that has prevented tenants from moving into a $4 million building completed last August for processing and the sale of fish and fish products.
A century of unmapped underground fuel lines make development in the Iwilei area "hit and miss," Cayetano said yesterday. "I'm disappointed, but we were not apparently able through our studies to predict this," he said.
"I was hoping that we would be able to have a grand opening before I left office," Cayetano said, noting that the project was launched by his administration in 1997. But as far as I can tell, the methane problem is one that no one was able to detect, although environmental studies were conducted there, so it's something we have to deal with."
When he announced the project, Cayetano said the complex would give residents and visitors a new experience in visiting the harbor, observing fish auctions and sampling seafood at the business operations and restaurant.
The state has hired an environmental consultant to conduct tests and recommend ways to undertake a cleanup and how to monitor the methane problem.
Standards in California put a methane reading of over 5,000 parts per million as being dangerous and some wells at Honolulu Harbor register 60 times the safe level. The highest readings inside the fishing village building were nearly four times the safe level.
The state expects the consultant's final report next month and will ask for bids in October for the estimated yearlong cleanup work expected to cost between $1 million and $1.5 million.
The latest estimate is that the fishing village will be ready for occupancy in October 2003.
State Department of Transportation officials say the initial environmental assessment in 1998 focused on petroleum pollution and did not consider methane generated from petroleum.
The fishing village on 16.5 acres along the former Pineapple Pier 38 is where Hawaii-based fishing boats will be able to unload directly to United Fishing Agency, which runs Oahu's fish auction. Wholesalers buying whole fish from the auction will be just feet from their processing facilities.
The village aims to replace United Fishing's old and cramped facility on Ahui Street off Kewalo Basin in Kakaako and also is expected to be a visitor attraction.
The tenants waiting to move into the fishing village occupy some key locations in Kakaako where the state wants to make way for new development, Cayetano said.
"So that's going to have another delaying effect on other kinds of more appropriate development of Kakaako," he said.
State of Hawaii
