Mold disrupts work Mold has been discovered in both the Prince Kuhio Federal Building and the U.S. District Courthouse, resulting in the relocation of at least one magistrate.
at 2 federal buildings
By Debra Barayuga
dbarayuga@starbulletin.comProfessionals have been hired to clean up the mold as quickly as possible and to investigate the cause of water leaks and correct the problem, said Esther Timberlake, spokeswoman for the federal General Services Administration, which manages both buildings on Halekauwila Street.
No employees or visitors at either building have complained of any symptoms that can be attributed to the mold, she said.
Also, no services have been disrupted by the ongoing investigation or cleanup.
The mold in the federal courthouse apparently has been confined to the third-floor chambers of Magistrate Leslie Kobayashi. A water leak above her office created an environment for the mold which was visible in her chambers, Timberlake said.
The area was isolated, and Kobayashi and her staff were relocated to another office last week.
Further investigation determined that there are no signs of mold or water leaks to date in any of the public areas in the courthouse, Timberlake said. "We really think we have a handle on the situation there."
Although both buildings are connected by a covered bridge, their air-conditioning systems are not directly linked, and the problems appear to be isolated, Timberlake said.
Reports of mold found in isle buildings have increased since last month when the Hilton Hawaiian Village closed its new 453-unit, $95 million Kalia Tower after mold was discovered.
Water leaks in the federal building, which houses federal agencies including the Social Security Administration, Internal Revenue Service and various law enforcement agencies, were discovered earlier this month, and mold was found scattered above the false ceiling in various locations, Timberlake said.
While she could not give specific details where or what type of mold was found, the ongoing investigation includes inspection of every inch of the water lines and spaces in the building to determine the source of the water leaks and the mold itself. "We want to take care of this right away."
Meanwhile, agencies housed in the federal building are being notified.
"We are really concerned about our tenants in any situation like this," Timberlake said. The public will also be notified "once we know what's going on," she added.
The discovery is the latest reported incident of mold found in government buildings here and on the mainland.
Excessive mold and mildew in a Florida federal courthouse prompted a judge last year to move the high-profile murder trial of a former police officer. A prosecutor said he did not want to risk a mistrial by having jurors drop out because of health worries, according to the Florida Times-Union newspaper.
Star-Bulletin reporter Tim Ruel contributed to this report.
