Driver’s licensing office reopens to throng of renewal applicants

The Kalihi-Kapalama Satellite City Hall today remained closed for a second day while the driver’s licensing office reopened to a throng of renewal applicants a day after employees were sickened by transient odors from a construction project at City Square.

The satellite city hall did not open because of a lack of staff due to staffers still being sick from the odors, said Chase Masuda, acting admnistrator of satellite city halls. The office plans to reopen Monday.

The driver’s licensing office was jammed today with people seeking to get new licenses on the last day before stricter identification requirements go into effect on Monday.

Motorists 90 minutes or more to get their driver’s licenses renewed this afternoon.

Most people in line said while they’re not happy with the long wait, they expected it. Many spent the time commiserating with strangers in line with them.

Some complained that there were not enough tellers to handle the situation.

On Thursday, several employees complained about nausea, headaches, and dizziness from transient odors at both offices. Two people were treated by paramedics at the scene and two were taken to the hospital in serious condition.

Firefighters couldn’t detect any fumes, but suspected the odors may have come from the exhaust of a generator outside that entered the ventilation system from an intake vent.

It was the second time in two weeks that the satellite city hall was closed because of noxious odors. A construction project next door sent fumes into the ventilation system and prompted the closure of the office on Feb. 16-17.