Posted on: Wednesday, May 7, 2003

'Fishing Village' project moving forward

By Johnny Brannon
Advertiser Staff Writer

After years of snafus and delays, the state hopes a waterfront project that's meant to serve as the hub of O'ahu's commercial fishing industry will soon be open for business.

The $14.5 million "Fishing Village" complex at piers 37 and 38 was supposed to be finished by late 2000, but problems pushed the work back repeatedly.

Harbor officials estimate it will cost up to $1 million and take several months to remove or seal methane gas in the soil that has the potential to explode. A venting and monitoring system must be set up to ensure more doesn't build up on the 16-acre site. The problem wasn't detected until construction was mostly completed.

The complex was expected to generate up to $755,000 per year from dozens of fish sellers and processors who hoped to lease space there, but the contamination put the plans on hold.

"Millions of dollars have been spent and zero revenue has come in during that time, so it's not acceptable to continue like that," Gov. Linda Lingle said.

Huge fuel tanks and underground pipes had long been located on the site. But the state didn't test for methane earlier because it was not required to, according to health officials.

A group of private companies studying pollution in the harbor area later detected the problem, but it remains unclear whether the methane resulted from fuel spills or landfill material buried on the site.

The Department of Transportation is accepting bids from contractors this month for the cleanup job.

"I'm really optimistic now that in the near future you're going to see people start to move into the fishing village," Lingle said.