Image copyright Getty Images Image caption During World War II the US government spent big on fuel for its armed forces to help protect them during the attack on Pearl Harbor
The families of Pearl Harbor survivors are concerned about possible fuel leaks at their homes due to faulty valves.
Two of the homes where the valves were due to be replaced have already been put out of action.
The National Park Service says it is working with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to examine the homes.
About 2,400 people were killed at Pearl Harbor on 14 December 1941.
Smoke alarms ‘went off’
The Pearl Harbor Family Association, which represents more than 70 families living on the Pearl Harbor District, says it notified the families of six homes in the area to see if their smoke alarms sounded, as they had done two weeks ago.
Seventeen of the 74 families that comprise the association notified their insurance companies about the taps, said Jerry Campbell, the association’s representative, but no claims have been made yet.
Two of the six families located smoke alarms and checked them thoroughly, he said.
One of the six families discovered the taps had started to leak fuel, Mr Campbell said. The family advised fire officials and the US Navy, which owns the land, so that repairs could be made.
The taps that were slated for replacement had corroded and were leaking and not working, he added.
Mr Campbell said the family was “horrified” to learn of the leak and that the lack of working taps could raise questions about water safety.
“How would I feel if my children came home from school and there was something wrong with my drinking water?” he said.
“A lot of these parents are old veterans who were stationed on mainland Hawaii at the time.
“They remember it, even though they’ve passed on.”
The National Park Service said it had to “prevent and remedy any potential impact to the quality of drinking water”.
But officials did not give details on how the leak was happening and how much fuel it was leaking.
EPA director Scott Pruitt tweeted that the agency was “appreciative of the families’ concerns.”
Lincoln Palomino, district ranger at Pearl Harbor, said the Park Service wanted to find out what was leaking and take care of it.
The agency was working with the US Navy to address the issue.