Honolulu Mesothelioma Lawyer

Many of the important industries in Honolulu used asbestos in the past and put residents and workers at risk of exposure and diseases like mesothelioma. Victims are now fighting for justice with the assistance of qualified Honolulu mesothelioma lawyers.

If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may be entitled to substantial compensation. Fill out our form to get a free Financial Compensation Packet. You’ll learn about the experienced mesothelioma lawyers in Honolulu, how to get paid in 90 days, how to file a claim for the asbestos trust funds, and more.

Honolulu Asbestos Facts

• With its smaller population and less industrialized economy, Hawaii has seen fewer asbestos-related deaths than other states.
• Honolulu has the highest number of asbestos deaths in the state, with over 500 between 1999 and 2017.
• U.S. Navy veterans were at a particular risk of exposure to asbestos because it was used in so many ship materials and components.
• The Vermiculite of Hawaii plant also placed workers at risk in processing this asbestos-contaminated mineral.

Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard

The Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, one of the most famous shipyards in the United States, currently employs thousands of people. It has been years since heavy asbestos use at the Pearl Harbor shipyard, but current workers could still be exposed during remediation efforts.

The Pearl Harbor shipyard is home to a Superfund cleanup site designated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Asbestos at Pearl Harbor was used in:

• Buildings
• Stall lots
• Dry dock stations
• Pipes
• Ship parts
• Incinerators
• Boilers
• Valves and gaskets
• Plumbing and electrical insulation
• Steam lines
• Turbines
• Electronics
• Deck materials

From the 1940s until the 1970s, asbestos was used so heavily at the shipyard that numerous former workers have passed away from diseases caused by asbestos exposure. Other workers are currently living with malignant mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses.

Vermiculite of Hawaii Plant

According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), from 1953 until 1983, Honolulu’s Vermiculite of Hawaii Plant received hundreds of shipments of asbestos-contaminated vermiculite. The plant was an exfoliation site, a type of processing that puts workers at particular risk of asbestos exposure.

Even after asbestos use was discontinued at the plant, fibers were present decades later, until around 2001, when the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) performed a cleanup at the site. Both workers and nearby residents were put at risk because of the activities of the plant.

Asbestos Alerts in Schools

Around 2005, residents learned that Honolulu and other area schools posed asbestos exposure risks to students and staff. The risk was high enough that the EPA got involved and reminded the state of the potential hazards.

In 1986, Congress passed the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA), which mandates that all public and private schools in the United States must develop, plan, and carry out asbestos safety plans, including routine inspections and maintenance. 

Unfortunately, employees in one Hawaii school, King Intermediate School, didn’t properly dispose of asbestos after an exterior paint job. This led to concerns that the Hawaii Department of Education had not followed AHERA as required.

Honolulu Fire Department Cited for Poor Asbestos Practice

Hawaii has strict rules for asbestos abatement, so it came as a shock to many Honolulu residents when the Honolulu Fire Department violated asbestos safety standards.

Firefighters failed to take appropriate steps to reduce exposure during a 2017 fire at the Marco Polo high rise building.

“Only one company bagged their turn-out gear and equipment at the scene and the rest of the companies did not do so until they returned to their stations. Some fire fighters did not bag their contaminated turn-out gear until the end of their shift i.e. next morning. As a result, the fire trucks and/or the fire stations may be contaminated with asbestos and/or other hazardous materials.”

Hawaii Occupational Safety and Health Division

The mistake not only put firefighters and the public at risk but also came with steep fines.

Additional Sites Associated with Asbestos in Honolulu

Many buildings and structures constructed with asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) in Hawaii remain today.

Mills and Plants

• Honolulu Planing Mill
• Kate Power Plant
• Kohala Sugar Mill
• Pioneer Mill Company

Buildings

• Alexander Young Building
• Alexander & Baldwin Building
• Honolulu Hale
• Honolulu Museum of Art
• City of Honolulu Building
• Marco Polo Highrise

Schools

• King Intermediate School
• Haleiwa Elementary School
• Aliamanu Middle School
• Aiea Elementary School
• Farrington High School
• University of Hawaii, Moore Hall

Other Job Sites, Buildings, and Businesses

• Aloha State Sales
• Dole Food Co./ HI Top Fruits
• Ewa Plantation Co.
• Hawaii Gas
• Honolulu Iron Works
• Hawaiian Pineapple Co.
• Schofield Barracks
• Von Hamm Young Company
• La Haina Plantation
• Ford Isle Tower
• Hawaiian Tuna Packers
• Queens Medical Center

Medical Assistance in Honolulu

If you or a loved one suffer from mesothelioma, asbestosis, or any other asbestos-related diseases, two cancer centers in Hawaii provide innovative and comprehensive treatment options.

Cancer Research Center of Hawaii
651 Ilalo Street, BSB 231
Honolulu, HI 96813

University of Hawaii Cancer Center
701 Ilalo Street
Honolulu, HI 96813
Distance: 1.8 miles

Getting Legal Assistance in Honolulu

If you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may be entitled to compensatory damages. Get our free Financial Compensation Packet for information on the top mesothelioma and asbestos lawyers in your area. If you have questions or need assistance, contact us toll-free at 800-793-4540.