WAIKELE CAVE FIRE

BREAKING NEWS AND STORY UPDATE - May 24, 2012

 Today we learned the families of victims of the Waikele Cave fireworks explosion have filed  lawsuits.   Read the PRESS RELEASE  and full COMPLAINT DOCUMENT  here, along with our pictures of the cave and fire from the original story included below:

FIRE IN THE CAVES AT WAIKELE

4/8/11 - Five are dead and one worker sustained minor injuries after fireworks exploded in a bunker storage unit at the Waikele self storage units known as "Waikele Caves" .  Early this morning,  at approximately 9:00 am, an incident occurred in one of the bunkers owned by  Donaldson Enterprises, Inc.   One victim, identified as Robert Leahey, was 50.  The other victims were all in their 20's.  Last year the city ignored concerns we raised about nonconforming use of Waikele Caves (link to our story from 1/17/10).  Today, activities the city ignored resulted in death and injury to innocent workers at the facility.   It was reported that the WWII bunker was used to store seized or illegal fireworks.  Authorities are still investigating.

Donaldson Enterprises Inc specializes in unexploded ordnance

Honolulu Fire Dept. Captain Terry Seelig comforts family and friends