Mesothelioma and asbestos exposure in Honolulu

Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard has repaired and maintained Navy ships in the Pacific since the early twentieth century, including the massive repair effort after the 1941 attack. Warships of that era were heavily insulated with asbestos on boilers, turbines and steam piping. Shipyard workers cut and replaced this insulation during repairs, and sailors lived and worked aboard ships where asbestos dust could collect. Repair crews worked in cramped engine rooms where old insulation had to be removed before new work could start. Electricians, welders and pipefitters often shared those spaces with insulators, so dust from one trade reached many others. Many shipyard workers spent their entire careers there, and some families have had several generations on the payroll.

Oahu's power plants burned oil to generate electricity, with boilers and turbines insulated with asbestos. Sugar mills across the islands also ran steam-powered equipment with asbestos insulation and gaskets. Because Hawaii has a large military population, many residents have both military and civilian exposure in their histories. Some patients travel to the mainland for specialist care. Island construction also used asbestos in fireproofing, roofing and pipe insulation in hotels, schools and military housing. Because materials were shipped to Hawaii, longshoremen at Honolulu Harbor handled cargo that sometimes included asbestos products. Many local workers held jobs in several of these industries, so their histories can include both civilian and military sites.