A mold infestation at Kennedy Theatre is by far the worst that industrial hygienist Emma Kennedy has seen on the University of Hawai'i-Manoa campus.

She said gutting the entire theater is the best way to prevent reoccurrence and minimize health risks.

But the university plans a less extensive cleanup that she said will suffice — and have the theater open again in time for the next scheduled production.

"It's like asbestos — there's different methods on how to control the hazards," said Kennedy, a longtime consultant with UH-Manoa's Environmental Services office. "You can leave it in place and make sure it's always in good condition. But the ultimate solution is to remove the material."

UH is following the advice of a consultant recommended by Kennedy's office, school spokesman Jim Manke said.

Inside the theater, a thick layer of green, slimy mold covers the wood railings and doors. Mold crawls up wood panels on the auditorium walls and the carpeting is covered with large round splotches. Upholstery on the 600 seats is spotted, and their wooden armrests are covered in a thin film of mold.

The infestation was discovered in mid-July and has resulted in the closure of the theater, the campus hub for theater and dance activity, with just a couple of weeks to go until the fall semester begins. Kennedy Theatre's season opener — "The Boy Who Tricked the Moon" — a children's play that was expected to be attended by hundreds of elementary school, has been canceled, and instructors are scrambling to find alternative lecture halls.

Kennedy said the main reason the cleaning option was chosen over renovation was the potential loss of revenue from having the theater closed for an extended period of time. But renovation remains an option later.

"It's been considered but it would be Phase II," she said.

Bids for the cleanup were due yesterday afternoon, according to Manke.

Molds are considered a health risk and can lead to nasal stuffiness, eye irritation or wheezing. Some people, such as those with serious allergies to molds, may have more severe reactions including fever and shortness of breath. People with chronic illnesses, such as obstructive lung disease, may develop mold infections in their lungs.

The project possibly will entail vacuuming the floor and upholstery with a special cleaner similar to that used during asbestos cleanup, Kennedy said. The work also will include applying a fungicide to wood panels and upholstery as well as chemical dry cleaning, she said. The air will have to be filtered using a machine that removes particles from the air.

Before the auditorium reopens in early October, tests will be made to make sure the air is safe, Manke said.

"The issue of replacing the carpet was on the table, but in the end it appeared to be a surface problem rather than a penetration problem," Manke said. Revisions to recommendations for action from the university's consultant were being made all the way up until yesterday, he said.

Hawai'i's moderate, humid climate is an environment that is perfect for breeding mold.

This infestation is not the first time Kennedy Theatre has been invaded by fungi. A couple of years ago, spores were discovered on wall panels in the auditorium during repairs on the air-conditioning system, according to Kennedy.

The closure of Kennedy Theatre affects hundreds of regular users.

Robert Wylie, a senior majoring in theater at UH-Manoa, was to have his set design unveiled during the season opener. While Wylie wasn't relying on the production for credit, he said, "It's a real disappointment." Construction on his set was to begin in two weeks.

There are about 500 students that filter through the theater program every year and a couple of hundred theater majors, Manke said.

Markus Wessendorf, associate professor of Western Theatre, relies on the use of Kennedy Theatre to teach his Theatre 101 course that normally has about 140 students enrolled. "I'm heavily affected — I depend on that stage," Wessendorf said.

"I've had a hard time booking alternate spaces."

Wessendorf will direct "Battle of Will," a play expected to open Nov. 11, but said he is afraid the theater will not be cleaned in time.

According to Manke, cleanup should be completed by Sept. 30 in time for rehearsals that are scheduled to begin Oct. 11.

The mold infestation was discovered last month by theater manager Marty Myers. Apparently the mold began to grow after June 24, when the air conditioning was turned off for a week as a fire-retardant curtain containing asbestos was being removed, according to Myers. The air conditioning was turned off as a precaution to keep asbestos from entering the system.

During the two subsequent weeks, the air conditioning was on, but the mold continued to grow unbeknown to theater staff. "We didn't even walk into the theater," she said, which isn't uncommon during the summer.

When Myers finally did venture into the theater, she said it was dark and reeked of a "funny" smell from the mold.

Myers works in a small office near the lobby of the theater that remains unaffected because it is on a separate air-conditioning system. But she won't venture into the auditorium without a mask on. She won't even touch the doors — she kicks them open.

"This is so disappointing and such a loss," she said.