News Release – DOH Orders ABC Towing to Immediately Halt Operations and Clean Up Hazardous Materials at Facility

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Official release

News Release – DOH Orders ABC Towing to Immediately Halt Operations and Clean Up Hazardous Materials at Facility

Posted on Oct 2, 2026 in Main, Newsroom

STATE OF HAWAIʻI

KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI

JOSH GREEN, M.D.

GOVERNOR

KE KIAʻĀINA

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

KA ʻOIHANA OLAKINO

KENNETH S. FINK, MD, MGA, MPH

DIRECTOR

KA LUNA HOʻOKELE

DOH Orders ABC Towing to Immediately Halt Operations and Clean Up Hazardous Materials at Facility

026-135

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 2, 2026

HONOLULU — The Hawaiʻi Department of Health (DOH) issued an Administrative Order against ABC Towing & Parts, LLC and property owner JH Hawaii Property, LLC under state Environmental Response Law (HRS 128D), due to hazardous substances following a September 30 fire at the ABC Towing facility.

ABC Towing has been ordered to immediately cease operations and respond to DOH within 24 hours its intention to comply with terms of the order (attached via link).

Director of Health, Dr. Kenneth S. Fink, determined that the actual release or threat of the release of hazardous substances at the facility following the fire constitute an imminent and substantial endangerment to public health or welfare, or the environment.

“We acted against this operator and property owner in March 2025 and again in July 2026. The fire at the site has now made this an emergency situation due to the risk of hazardous substances harming our communities, contaminating our land and reaching our waterways,” said Director Fink. “The respondents must clean this site up, or we will do it and hold them responsible.”

Respondents ABC Towing & Parts and JH Hawaii Property are ordered to:

Provide to the DOH a site assessment and proposal for removal and appropriate response action within 72 hours. Upon DOH receipt and approval of the plan, the respondents must immediately begin implementation of the approved plan.

The respondents must indicate whether they will comply with the emergency order within 24 hours of receipt of the order.

If the respondents fail to provide a proposal within the 72-hour timeframe, the DOH may exercise its authority to clean up the site itself. If this occurs, the respondents will be responsible for the cost of cleanup.

The Honolulu Fire Department responded to hotspot fires within the waste pile today, which may cause or contribute to the further release of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants.

DOH previously issued Notices of Violation and Order against ABC Towing & Parts and its property owner on July 8, 2026, and March 11, 2025. DOH also reserves the right to bring other actions for other violations.

Click here to read DOH administrative order.

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Release text attributed to Hawaii Governor’s Office. Consult the official publication for any subsequent corrections or updates.