Update: Hāwī transfer station to remain closed through at least next 2 days

Update at 4:34 p.m. Sept. 23: The Hāwī transfer station will remain closed at least through Sept. 25 for safety reasons as cleanup of transformer oil that was improperly disposed of in a chute continues.

Residents are advised to use the Waimea or Puakō transfer stations.

It is uncertain whether the Hāwī transfer station will reopen after Wednesday. Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.

The Hawaiʻi Department of Health is working with the Hawaiʻi County Department of Environmental Management to remove the oil safely.

There is no immediate threat to the public.

Original post from 6:54 p.m. Sept. 22: An unidentified liquid, later determined to be transformer oil, was improperly disposed of in a chute at the Hāwī Transfer Station, the County of Hawaiʻi Public Information Office reports.

Details of the incident were not stated, but the county says that the Hawai‘i Fire Department is working closely with the Department of Environmental Management to contain and remove the liquid.

It add that there is no immediate threat to the public.

However, the transfer station will be closed for cleanup until further notice, the department said.

“At this time, we do not know when it will reopen. Residents are advised to use alternative transfer stations until further notice,” the statement said.