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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Federal courthouse reopens after flooding

By Ken Kobayashi
Advertiser Courts Writer

The federal courthouse reopened yesterday after a week of cleanup and repairs caused by a broken water pipe that flooded the five-story structure with hundreds of gallons of water.

The Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana'ole United States Courthouse was closed March 6 after an estimated 1,500 gallons of water seeped into the courthouse from a broken water pipe.

Chief U.S. District Judge Helen Gillmor said there were concerns about mold, but air quality tests on Monday turned up negative for mold.

During the closure, federal court hearings were held at half a dozen locations around town, including the Federal Detention Center, the federal bankruptcy courtroom and conference rooms and the cafeteria at the next-door federal building, Gillmor said.

The water pipe was below the fourth floor and water seeped into the third-floor library, which will have to be rebuilt, the judge said.

"Everybody pulled together and kept a very positive attitude," Gillmor said.

The closure is believed to be the longest for repairs for the building, Hawai'i's only federal courthouse, which opened in 1978.

Reach Ken Kobayashi at kkobayashi@honoluluadvertiser.com.