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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, July 26, 2002

Investigators still studying mold at Hilton

By Andrew Gomes
Advertiser Staff Writer

A team of mold experts flown in from Georgia continued their study yesterday of a mysterious mold that contaminated guest rooms at Hilton Hawaiian Village's Kalia Tower, but hotel officials are not saying if the organism that prompted the closure of the year-old building on Wednesday has been identified.

A team of experts from Georgia continues to investigate mold found at the Hilton Hawaiian Villages' Kalia Tower. Discovery of the mysterious mold by a housekeeper who said contact irritated her hand forced closure of the tower's 453 rooms.

Cory Lum • The Honolulu Advertiser

Hilton spokeswoman Karen Winpenny said the company had nothing new to share yesterday, but said investigative work by consultant Air Quality Sciences Inc. of Atlanta is ongoing, and that as soon as there is new information Hilton will release it.

George Wong, a fungi specialist at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa, said experts should be able to identify the genus, or class, of an isolated mold in less than a day. Identifying the species, or distinct variety can take longer — perhaps days — depending on the number of species of a particular mold genus and how difficult it is to test, Wong said.

Meanwhile, the state Department of Health division that handles indoor air quality and environmental services, said no calls were received yesterday from anyone who recently stayed or worked in Kalia Tower's 453 rooms.

Hilton previously said no guests or employees experienced any health problems related to mold exposure, except for one housekeeper who first found the mold and reported that her hand was briefly irritated by touching it.

Eric Gill, financial secretary-treasurer of Local 5 of the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Union, said he submitted a written request yesterday, asking Hilton for all relevant information about the mold problem, including test results.

Gill said he didn't have enough information regarding Hilton's early response to the mold, which was first identified more than a month ago in early June, to question the company's handling of the situation. Hilton said it stopped using rooms as it gradually discovered more mold.

Union members who had been working at Kalia Tower, according to Gill, have been visiting doctors. Hilton has encouraged anyone believing they may have been affected by mold in Kalia Tower, to see a physician promptly. But Winpenny said she did not know if employees were doing so.

Many molds are not harmful, but certain species have been known to cause serious health problems, including chronic fatigue, headaches, sinus infections and respiratory ailments, especially among those who have allergies.

In 1995, the military's Hale Koa Hotel next to Hilton Hawaiian Village developed a harmless mold problem in a new 12-story addition.

John Jefferis, Hale Koa general manager, said forensic testing by a local firm quickly showed the mold presented no health issues. Follow-up tests by Mainland consultant CH2M Hill verified the results. Because the mold was not harmful, the hotel was able to use the affected rooms while renovating half a floor at a time. Remediation cost $5.5 million.

The Hale Koa's mold problem was created by design and construction faults, Jefferis said. Specifically, room dehumidifiers were underpowered to handle Hawai'i's high humidity, and a misplaced vapor retarder trapped moisture behind walls.

Air Quality Sciences, in an information brochure on its Web site, states that reasons for fungal growth in modern buildings can be complex.

To grow, mold needs only moisture and food such as gypsum board, insulation, wallcoverings and other structural or finishing materials. Sources of moisture inside new buildings have come from construction materials that are sealed before dry, improper air handling systems, water leaks and condensation.

Hilton Hotels Corp. said it plans to announce on Tuesday whether the closing of Kalia Tower is expected to hurt earnings.