'Aiea mill site to undergo cleanup
By Scott Ishikawa
Advertiser Staff Writer
'AIEA — Extensive lead contamination at the old 'Aiea Sugar Mill site is on the verge of being cleaned up.
Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser
Under an agreement between the city, state Department of Health and property owner Bank of Hawai'i, the contaminants would be cleaned from the 10-acre parcel beginning late this month.
Councilman Gary Okino, who represents the area near the site of the former 'Aiea Sugar Mill, is one of the community leaders who hope to convert the old mill property into a community gathering place.
Bank of Hawai'i spokesman Stafford Kiguchi said the cleanup will cost the bank approximately $2 million and should be completed by the end of September.
That would clear the way for the city to purchase the property and give new hope to area residents who have waited six years to see the historic site turned into a community gathering place.
A public meeting on the lead cleanup is scheduled for Aug. 19.
State health officials want to bring lead levels at the site to below 400 parts per million, which is the EPA limit for residential use. Preliminary soil samples have shown the lead levels to be at about 1,000 parts per million, with some spots measuring as high as 4,000 parts per million.
• A meeting on the lead contamination cleanup at the old 'Aiea Sugar Mill site will be held Aug. 19 at 'Aiea Elementary School, 99-370 Moanalua Road. An informal open house discussion will be held from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., with the formal meeting beginning at 7. • Details of the remedial cleanup plan can be viewed at 'Aiea Public Library, 99-143 Moanalua Road. Public comments can be submitted until Aug. 20 to Hawai'i Department of Health, Hazard Evaluation and Road Emergency Response Branch, 919 Ala Moana, Room 206, Honolulu, HI 96814, Attn: Chris Corley.
State health deputy director Gary Gill said the contaminated soil will be removed to a depth of 8 feet to alleviate any health and safety concerns. Gill said the risk to lead exposure would occur only if contaminated dust blows into homes, or the worst-case risk of a toddler swallowing the dirt. High levels of lead contamination can affect the nervous system and mental development of young children, he said.
Public meeting
"The concern is when there is exposed soil," Gill said. "If it's well-grassed or covered under asphalt or concrete, it shouldn't be a problem."
While the dreams of preserving the 100-year-old 'Aiea Sugar Mill came crashing down with the wrecking ball in 1998, the effort by area residents to build a gathering place at the site remains alive. Residents hope the environmental cleanup is the final hurdle in getting money for a community center and park.
"It's been frustrating trying to keep residents excited over the years about this project when we keep hitting these roadblocks," said 'Aiea Community Association president Claire Tamamoto.
However, Tamamoto and other community leaders as well as area City Councilman Gary Okino want to make sure the soil cleanup is sufficient. The city appropriated $9 million in 2000 to buy the property; the lead contamination was discovered last October.
"We've been fighting for years to get a community center here, but I just want to make sure the cleanup is done right," said Okino, who along with other area residents has been pushing for a community gathering place since 1997 when previous owner Crazy Shirts announced its plans to demolish the mill. "I mean, there are going to be young kids playing at the park and day-care center, so I want it to be safe from lead."
Chris Corley, the state Department of Health's project manager for the 'Aiea cleanup, said the soil contamination was linked to lead subacetate used in laboratory work at the sugar mill to test the sucrose level of processed sugar cane.
Crazy Shirts in May 2001 handed the property over to Bank of Hawai'i to satisfy overdue loans. After the city agreed to a land swap with Bank of Hawai'i, the lead contamination was discovered.
Ben Lee, city managing director, said the city is satisfied with the bank's effort to go 8 feet deep for the cleanup and plans to acquire the property after state health officials deem the area safe. Lee said a delay in negotiations occurred when the previous cleanup proposal was to go only 2 feet deep.
"We were concerned whether the city would face future liability if more contamination was found at the mill site," Lee said. "We're satisfied about the cleanup going 8 feet deep since many of our water and utility lines would be placed around that depth."
When the land purchase is complete, Tamamoto said community leaders will start trying to acquire money to build the center.
Some proposed uses include a daycare center, rooms for community meetings and classes, a thrift store, open market, snack shop and art center.
In addition, community leaders would like to honor previous generations of the former plantation community.
"We want this to be a place where the younger generations can learn about their community's history," Tamamoto said. "A lot of kids don't realize that it was the sugar mill that founded this community. They think Pearlridge shopping center started everything out here."
Reach Scott Ishikawa at sishikawa@honoluluadvertiser.com or at 535-2429.
