Posted at 4:49 p.m., Wednesday, July 24, 2002
Mold forcing closure of Hilton's Kalia Tower
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| The 453-room Kalia Tower was opened in May 2001. Advertiser library photo |
Advertiser Staff
Hilton Hawaiian Villages today closed all guest rooms at the Kalia Tower after a cleaning crew discovered mold at the 453-room high rise.The tower will remain closed until the mold can be eliminated, said Peter Schall, senior vice president and managing director for Hilton in Hawai'i. No guests have reported health problems because of the mold, Schall said in a press release. One Hilton employee has "sustained a rash," but has returned to work and feels fine, Schall said.
Experts are trying to figure out how mold got in the hotel, he said.
Kalia Tower opened for business in May 2001 and is the newest hotel tower in Waikiki.
It was unclear how many guests were staying in the tower when it was vacated. The guests were moved to the other towers on the property.
Schall said about 50 employees who serviced the guest rooms at the Kalia Tower will be shifted to other jobs and no layoffs are planned "at this time."
Schall said he could not give an estimate of the cost of closing the guest rooms. He said the hotel has contacted its insurance company and the building contractors.
The Kalia Tower's non-guest room facilities including the spa, meeting rooms and lobby will remain open, Schall said.
