Hawaii Mesothelioma Lawyer

Hawaii has long been home to industries that used asbestos and exposed workers and residents to its harmful effects. A qualified Hawaii mesothelioma lawyer can help if you’ve developed a toxic asbestos-related disease.

If you have mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may be eligible to receive a large amount of compensation. Fill out our form to get a free Financial Compensation Packet. You’ll learn about the experienced mesothelioma lawyers in your area, how to get paid in 90 days, how to file a claim for the asbestos trust funds, and more.

We help families in all cities and towns in Hawaii, including:

Honululu, Pearl City, East Honolulu, Hilo, Kailua Cdp, Waipahu, Kaneohe, Mililani Town, Kahului, Ewa, Gentry, Kihei, Schofield, Barracks, Mililani, Mauka, Makakilo, Wahiawa, Wailuku, Kapolei, Royal Kunia, Ewa Beach, Halawa, Waimalu, Kailua Cdp, Waianae, Nanakuli, Waipio, Lahaina, Kapaa, Kaneohe Station, Kalaoa, Hawaiian Paradise Park, Waihee-Waiehu, Ocean Pointe, Waimea Cdp, Aiea, Holualoa, Ahuimanu, Maili, Haiku-Pauwela, Makaha, Pukalani, Waikele, Hickam Housing, Ewa Villages, Lihue, Kula, Makawao, Waikoloa Village, Napili-Honokowai, West Loch Estate, Wailea, Waimanalo, Laie, Pupukea, Whitmore Village, Waipio Acres, Wailua, Homesteads, Kahaluu, Heeia, Hawaiian Beaches, Waimanalo Beach, Kalaheo, Captain Cook, Kahaluu-Keauhou, Haleiwa, Hawaiian Ocean View, Waialua, Hanamaulu, Hauula, Puhi, Iroquois Point, Waikapu, Ainaloa, Lanai City, Kilauea, Kaunakakai, Orchidlands Estates, Kekaha, Mountain View, Honokaa, Hanapepe, Eleele, Honaunau-Napoopoo, Honalo, Volcano, Wailua, Keaau, Kahuku, Paia, Wheeler AFB, Koloa, Princeville, Anahola, Lawai, Hawaiian Acres, Kealakekua, Maunawili, Kualapuu, Ko Olina, Waimea Cdp, Pepeekeo, and more.

Asbestos Use in Hawaii’s Military Installations

Since Hawaii is located halfway between the U.S. West Coast and Japan, the Army and Navy set up several military bases at the start of the 20th Century. Naval Station Pearl Harbor, now known as Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, began as a Navy coaling station and anchorage in 1899.

By 1940, a modernized and expanded Pearl Harbor became the main base of the Pacific Fleet, the Navy’s largest group of warships and fleet auxiliaries.

Many of Pearl Harbor’s facilities were built with construction materials containing asbestos. This includes the oil tank farm, the shipyard, the air station on Ford Island, and the Pacific Fleet headquarters, which were built with construction materials containing asbestos.

The Army built various forts and air bases to protect Pearl Harbor, and the ships berthed there, including Schofield Barracks, Ft. Shafter, and Wheeler and Hickam Fields. These bases were also built with construction materials which included asbestos.

The pervasive presence of asbestos in the state’s military installations can be summed up by one statistic: According to the  Honolulu Star-Bulletin, in Pearl Harbor-Hickam alone, over 10,000 workers at the Naval Shipyard have been exposed to asbestos since the Second World War.

Where Else Was Asbestos Used in Hawaii?

Nearly every building constructed in Hawaii between 1898 and 1980 contained asbestos. This includes:

• Pineapple processing plants
• Auto repair shops
• Airports
• Shipyards
• Power plants
• Government buildings
• Private homes
• Schools

Many workers in the construction, power generating, food processing, and manufacturing fields were exposed to asbestos on the job or put at risk of exposure.

The site of the now-closed Vermiculite of Hawaii plant in Honolulu has been evaluated by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Diseases Registry (ATSDR) as being contaminated by asbestos.

From 1954 to 1983, this facility processed vermiculite from Libby, Montana, which contained high amounts of asbestos.

The ATSDR report informs former workers and residents of nearby neighborhoods that they may have been exposed to asbestos during Hawaii’s 30-year-long operational existence.

Hawaii’s aging school facilities continue to have large amounts of asbestos on campuses built as recently as 40 years ago.  In December of 2004, for instance, asbestos was found in the outside paintwork of Honolulu’s King Intermediate School.

Two permanent classroom buildings and one portable facility shut down, the Honolulu Advertiser reported.

Prominent Job Sites Known to Have Asbestos Exposure

• Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyards
• Ford Island Naval Air Station
• Hickam Air Force Base
• Schofield Army Barracks
• Vermiculite of Hawaii asbestos processing plant
• Pearl Harbor Oil Tank Farm
• Maui Electric Company
• Olokele Sugar Company

Asbestos Laws in Hawaii

Under Title 11, Chapter 501, of the Hawaii Department of Health’s Administrative Rules,  Hawaii made several regulations regarding the handling, working around, and removing asbestos, known as asbestos abatement:

• Owners and operators of asbestos mills in Hawaii must ensure that no emissions are ejected out of the mills and into the air. In addition, they must inspect the air ducts and clean the air devices and equipment at least once a week.
• Roadways made with asbestos are strictly prohibited in Hawaii, including tailings or waste materials. Tailings containing asbestos are only acceptable if they are encapsulated into the roadway’s asphalt.
• Any manufacturer that can still legally use asbestos must ensure no emissions are leaked from the building.
• Anyone planning to demolish or renovate a building or facility that contains asbestos must always adhere to Title 11, Chapter 501 guidelines of the Hawaii Department of Health’s Administrative Rules.
• Schools that were built with asbestos-containing materials must undergo routine inspections and maintenance, and all records must be sent to the state.

For more information, contact the Hawaii Department of Health’s Administrative Department.

Hawaii’s Statute of Limitations on Asbestos Lawsuits

To file an asbestos-related lawsuit in Hawaii, you must do so within that state’s statute of limitations, which include:

• Two years from the diagnosis of an asbestos-related disease
• Two years from the time of the victim’s death for wrongful death lawsuits

Getting Legal Help in Hawaii

Remember, if you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may qualify for significant compensation. Get our free Financial Compensation Packet for information on the top mesothelioma and asbestos lawyers in your area. For questions and assistance, feel free to contact us at 800-793-4540.