Dr. Michele Carbone

Dr. Giovanni Gaudino began his collaboration with Dr. Michele Carbone at the Cancer Research Center of Hawaii (CRCH) in early 2008.  Since then, he has been to Hawaii three times, each time taking what he calls “short sabbaticals” from his teaching and research duties in Italy.  While in Hawaii, he has had the opportunity to appreciate the good work of the scientists and the wonderful progress that has been made at the Center.  He and Dr. Carbone are working on finding ways in which they can collaborate even more.  Today Dr. Gaudino is now on the faculty of the Cancer Center as a Professor of Research.

In Dr. Gaudino’s view, it is not easy to run a top-level cancer center in the United States.  It is much more competitive in the United States than in Europe.  Here the universities and the cancer centers are very open to foreigners, and they hire the best scientists from all over the world.  For this reason, the best work and publications and clinical trial results are coming from this country.

Dr. Gaudino also enjoys Hawaii.  It is a beautiful place, of course, but the most important part of his experience here has been what he calls “the human environment,” the friendliness of the people, the Aloha spirit, which he says reminds him of the Mediterranean area.

Mesothelioma Research Requires Collaboration

“I have to say that for any kind of cancer, this collaboration, which is going [on] here, …is, … the only way to proceed, and so I’m very, very glad that it’s here.  The Cancer Center is doing so well.” – Giovanni Gaudino

In Dr. Gaudino’s experience, there is very good collaboration between the scientists at the Cancer Research Center of Hawaii and the clinicians and hospitals in Honolulu.  He feels that the Cancer Center has the potential to develop a network even better than that which they have developed in Italy.  His colleagues, the basic scientists, are working hard to develop new therapies, and their communication with physicians is very good.  The work is very promising and offers much hope to mesothelioma patients.  Dr. Gaudino believes that this collaborative approach is the only way to proceed, whether it concerns research for mesothelioma or for any type of cancer.

The Winning Mesothelioma Research Team

“… every scientist is convinced that his own work is the most important…And this is understandable.  But it’s not true…So,…the winning team is the team made of many different persons sitting around the table and trying to argue, and trying to demonstrate that his own point is the best.  But this is the way things can be done.” – Giovanni Gaudino

Dr. Michele Carbone, the director of the Cancer Center and a well-funded mesothelioma researcher, believes that the multidisciplinary approach to cancer research is the only way to win the battle, and Dr. Gaudino agrees with him 100%.  Only by scientists from multiple disciplines – molecular scientists, immunologists, epidemiologists, and physicians – coming together to share their views will the goal be reached in a fast, efficient way.  This is the only way to get things done.  These scientists, from their varied disciplines, make up the winning team to improve treatment of mesothelioma patients with the goal of prolonging lives.

Working Toward A Cure for Mesothelioma

We hope you have enjoyed your visit with Dr. Giovanni Gaudino, our Visiting Scholar at the Cancer Research Center of Hawaii, as much as we enjoyed the time we spent with him.  We hope this presentation has informed, inspired and encouraged you, and that you have been reassured that you are not alone in this battle.  Scientists and researchers from around the world and from multiple disciplines are collaborating with each other and with clinicians and other physicians to develop new therapies for mesothelioma patients, and in “working towards a cure,” to improve the quality of life for those who suffer from this disease as a result of exposure to asbestos in their work or other environments.

USS Arizona Memorial

On February 16, 2010, an opening ceremony was held at Pearl Harbor for the first phase of the new USS Arizona Memorial Visitor Center, which opened to the public on February 17, 2010.  The project has been divided into two phases.  Phase two is set to open on December 7, 2010 on the 69^th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Background of the USS Arizona Memorial Visitor Center

The original visitor center opened to the public in 1980.  The center was built on soil that had been dredged to expand the Halawa Basin.  Since its opening, the center has sunk nearly 30 inches and the concrete structures have eroded as a result.

The original center was designed and built to accommodate approximately 2,000 visitors; however, since its opening, the center has grown to become one of Hawaii’s largest tourist attractions with over 4,000 visitors a day.

What You Can Look Forward to at the New Visitor Center

The new visitor center has a bookstore that is twice the size of the old one.  It also contains administrative offices, a snack bar, an education and research center, and a central ticketing operation that will allow visitors to easily view other attractions such as the USS Bowfin Museum, the USS Arizona Memorial (renamed the Word War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument), the Pacific Aviation Museum, and the USS Missouri Memorial.

Herb Weatherwax, a survivor of the attacks on Pearl Harbor who attended the opening ceremony on February 16, 2010, stated that the new visitor center was “outstanding.”  Mr. Weatherwax was glad to see that larger bathroom facilities were available, as visitors of the older center were often forced to wait in long lines to use the bathroom facilities.  In addition, the center now has lots of shaded and seating areas for guests.

Phase Two – The Final Stage

Construction on phase two of the visitor center will begin immediately on the grounds of the old center and is estimated to cost a total of $58 million.  The second phase will include exhibits that will go beyond the actual Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor.  Some exhibits will focus on the events leading up to the war and the results and aftermath of the attacks.

When phase two is complete, the visitor center will have grown nearly twice in size and will sit on an additional six acres, increasing to a total area of 17.4 acres.  The center is expected to open in time for the annual anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.  The annual ceremony has been held at Kilo Pier; however, this year, the ceremony will return to the back lawn of the visitor center that will be three times larger than the original lawn.

Galiher DeRobertis Ono Continues to Support Navy Veterans

For over 30 years, Galiher DeRobertis Ono has represented U.S. Navy veterans and civilian workers who worked at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard during World War II, the Korean Conflict, the Vietnam War, and the Cold War.

Many of our clients were exposed to deadly asbestos while working on ships during overhauls or routine maintenance.  As a result, our clients developed asbestos-related illnesses such as asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma.

Through our work, we have had the pleasure of meeting many U.S. veterans who have bravely served our country.  We have listened to their stories and have been moved by their dedication and sacrifice.  We are so delighted to see the renewed energy and efforts being poured into this historic center that will surely continue to keep the memory of our brave veterans alive.

Welcoming each guest with a fresh orchid lei, attorneys Gary Galiher, L. Richard DeRobertis, Jeffrey Ono, Diane Ono and Ilana Waxman were on hand to meet the event organizers.  Dr. Christine Fukui, formerly of Kaiser Permanente, has treated many mesothelioma patients throughout her medical career as an internist, and Ms. Jean Evans, is the Executive Director of the American Lung Association in Hawaii.  Gary Galiher and the attorneys from the Galiher DeRobertis Ono team were privileged to be introduced to the faculty and symposium attendees during the elegant open air reception.  Attorney Gary Galiher commented that, “It was most interesting and enlightening to meet physicians so intimately involved in the study of pulmonary medicine who work directly and indirectly to help our mesothelioma and other clients who have asbestos conditions such as lung cancer and asbestosis.”

Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard

Two of Hawaii’s historic military bases will be merged this year as part of an effort to make the military more efficient by combining 26 installations nationwide.  On February 1, 2010, military officials removed the chain-link fence separating Pearl Harbor Naval Station from Hickam Air Force Base, beginning a process of integration at the new Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (JBPHH).

The missions of the two neighboring bases will remain separate, as the joint base will continue to service two distinct branches of the Armed Forces.  However, installation management and support services will be combined.  This merger comes as a result of a 2005 report by an independent panel on military bases, which recommended the merger of a number of bases around the country in order to save money on administrative and personnel costs.  These savings will be put to work funding the military operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere.

Joint Base Will Encompass Many Historic Sites

Most people are well aware of Pearl Harbor’s historic role in World War II.  More than 1000 sailors lost their lives during the infamous aerial attack on December 7, 1941, which launched the United States’ involvement in the War against the Axis powers.

In addition, Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard became the hub of maintenance and repair for Navy vessels in the Pacific theater.  Thousands of Navy personnel and civilian shipyard workers toiled bravely to keep our country’s battleships, destroyers, carriers, submarines, and other vessels in fighting shape.  The sacrifices of these brave men and women are memorialized at the USS Arizona Memorial, the Battleship Missouri Memorial, and the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park.

Hickam Air Force Base also played a key role in World War II.  The air station was another major target on December 7, 1941, as the Japanese strafed and bombed the U.S. aircraft there.  The attackers killed 189 people at Hickam, and wounded 303 others.  One of the Hickam barracks still bears the bullet holes from the Japanese machine guns.

Galiher DeRobertis Ono has represented numerous shipyard workers and Navy veterans who were exposed to asbestos on Navy vessels at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard.  We have also represented Air Force mechanics and civilian employees at Hickam, who were exposed to asbestos in the buildings or in the aircraft components.  Tragically, these veterans and workers remain at an elevated risk for mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related diseases.

USS Missouri BB-63

The formal grand reopening ceremonies for the historic battleship, USS Missouri BB-63, were held at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard on January 30, 2010.  Attendees included Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle, as well as Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard Commander, Captain Greg Thomas.  This grand reopening capped a month of activities for the historic Mighty Mo.

On January 7, 2010, the Mighty Mo was returned to her home pier near the USS Arizona Memorial on Pearl Harbor’s famous Battleship Row.  The Mighty Mo had spent 12 weeks in dry dock for maintenance and preservation work at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard.  The Mighty Mo entered dry dock on October 14, 2009.  The repairs included a fresh repainting, and modern humidity detection equipment was installed as well as such practical improvements as restroom facilities.

Once these repairs were complete, the battleship was towed back to her permanent dock.  During the tow from Pearl Harbor dry dock to Battleship Row, a ceremony was held for personnel from all branches of the armed forces, including the U.S. Air Force.  On January 15, 2010, the Mighty Mo opened to visitors again.

Her Legacies Carry Forward

The Mighty Mo was engraved in history as the site of the Japanese surrender, ending World War II.  Her return to Battleship Row near the USS Arizona Memorial marks the appropriate bookend to the Pacific War.  The Mighty Mo now stands as a museum ship, where visitors can see firsthand the interior of a World War II battleship.

A lesser-known legacy of the USS Missouri was the asbestos exposure by crew members and shipyard workers, which was typical of Navy vessels constructed and overhauled in the 1940s through the 1970s.  For the past 30 years, the Galiher DeRobertis Ono law firm has been proud to have represented not only veterans who served on battleships like the USS Missouri, but also Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard workers who overhauled these ships over the past half century.  Tragically, these former sailors and shipyard workers are now at an elevated risk for various asbestos-related diseases, such as malignant mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis.

Renovation of the Straub Cancer Center

On January 28, 2010, the Straub Clinic & Hospital in Honolulu, Hawaii held the grand opening of its newly renovated cancer center.  The Straub Cancer Center was previously split between the first and second floors of the Palama Building on King Street, but it has now been consolidated on the first floor.  The Straub Cancer Center has undergone over $2 million in renovations and has expanded approximately 2,000 square feet.

The Straub Cancer Center’s nine treatment rooms have also been refurbished with new equipment and furniture, including flat-screen TVs and adjustable recliners.  The cancer center has also expanded and improved its areas for family and friends, has an education room with a computer and other resources, and a healing garden.

Straub in the Battle Against Mesothelioma

The Straub Cancer Center, Kapiolani Medical Center at Pali Momi, Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children, and Wilcox Memorial Hospital are all operated by Hawaii Pacific Health.  Hawaii Pacific Health, along with The Queen’s Medical Center and Kuakini Health System, has recently joined with the University of Hawaii’s Cancer Research Center (CRCH) in an agreement that is likely to revolutionize mesothelioma treatment and research in Hawaii.

The Cancer Research Center of Hawaii receives more federal grant funding for mesothelioma research than any other research institution in the United States, and it is currently developing a new facility adjacent to the University of Hawaii’s John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) in Kakaako.  The involvement of Hawaii Pacific Health, The Queen’s Medical Center and Kuakini Health System in this project means that the cancer center will be able to work with existing treatment facilities rather than building its own clinic for patient care.  In addition, together the hospitals will contribute a total of $2.2 million annually for the center’s operations.

The Cancer Research Center of Hawaii, Hawaii Pacific Health, The Queen’s Medical Center and Kuakini Health System will collaborate, so that the hospitals provide the clinical component to patient care and the cancer center concentrates on bench research.  This efficient use of facilities, personnel and information will help provide mesothelioma patients with the best possible care.

Galiher DeRobertis Ono Supports Efforts To Improve Patient Care

Galiher DeRobertis Ono has represented hundreds of clients who suffer from asbestos-related illnesses like mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis, and we have always supported efforts to find a cure for asbestos-related illnesses.

Our law firm has helped many clients and their families obtain compensation for asbestos-related illnesses.  Through our legal work, we collaborate with cancer researchers and medical professionals who provide our clients with quality treatment.  We are very encouraged by the continued support and collaborative efforts of research and medical facilities in Hawaii to find better treatment, and eventually a cure, for these terrible diseases.

Dr. Giovanni Gaudino

The law firm Galiher DeRobertis Ono congratulates the Cancer Research Center of Hawaii (CRCH) for appointing a leading European mesothelioma expert, Dr. Giovanni Gaudino, as a Professor of Research.   Cancer center director Dr. Michele Carbone, also a world renowned mesothelioma scientist, is excited about the arrival of Dr. Gaudino at the Center, one of 65 National Cancer Institute (NCI) designated institutions in our country.

Dr. Gaudino is a molecular biologist who studies how mesothelial cells become malignant and give rise to mesothelioma, a very aggressive cancer caused by asbestos exposure.  His decision to bring his research to the U.S. is especially noteworthy because it gives much hope for developing new treatment therapies for mesothelioma patients in the United States.  According to Dr. Carbone, Dr. Gaudino has applied his basic scientific findings to the development of some promising new treatments for mesothelioma that are currently being tested in clinical trials in Europe.  Dr. Carbone  says that he is “very happy that Giovanni will join CRCH” and he is “looking forward to working with him and with Dr. Haining Yang, Dr. Morris and the other mesothelioma experts at the Cancer Research Center.”

CRCH receives more federal grant funding for mesothelioma research than any other research institution in the U.S.  The addition of Dr. Gaudino makes Carbone’s research team stronger.  Together they “will find new ways to prevent and treat this terrible cancer,” says Dr. Carbone.

Born in Saronno in northern Italy, Giovanni Gaudino earned his M.S. (U.S. equivalent) in Biological Sciences and his Ph.D. (U.S. equivalent) in biochemistry from the University of Torino in northern Italy.  Before accepting this position at the Cancer Research Center of Hawaii, Dr. Gaudino was a full professor of molecular biology in the School of Pharmacy and DISCAFF at the University of Piemonte Orientale  ”A. Avogadro” in Novara, Italy.

Gaudino has been involved in a promising clinical trial in Italy involving the use of the combination drug therapy of Gleevec and Gemcitabine on mesothelioma patients. Attorney Gary Galiher commented that he was very excited about Dr. Gaudino’s appointment, both as a huge positive step for the Cancer Research Center of Hawaii, and more importantly for the progress it portends for mesothelioma treatment in our country.

Gleevec: A New Role for a Classic Drug

“So we started in this direction and we used … Gleevec and we observed, of course, Gleevec was blocking all the targets we identified . . . .”
– Giovanni Gaudino

Touted by some doctors as one of the most impressive drugs in 20 years when it first came into use in 2001, Gleevec is well known as a successful drug for the treatment of some forms of leukemia and gastrointestinal tumors.  Gleevec is the brand name; the chemical name is imatinib mesylate.  Imatinib mesylate is a specific inhibitor of the receptor tyrosine kinase (the “big button” described earlier) called PDGFRB.  This receptor is widely expressed in most mesotheliomas and is one of the molecules critical to inducing chemoresistance.  With the discovery of the importance of these receptors, it was thought that Gleevec, a classic drug, could be used to inhibit these receptors and thus overcome the tumor cells’ chemoresistance and allow conventional chemotherapeutic drugs to work better.  Gleevec blocked all the identified targets. In lay terms, Gleevec kills abnormal cells and has very little effect on the normal cells.  When it was first used in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), the use of Gleevec was a medical breakthrough.  The primary investigator responsible for the leukemia research at the time dreamed of the day when Gleevec would be effectively used to fight other cancers.  This repurposing of existing, approved drugs such as Gleevec helps to bring new treatment therapies to patients more quickly and efficiently.

The next step for Dr. Gaudino’s research project was to test Gleevec with different chemotherapeutic drugs to see if this specific inhibitor could be used in combination with standard chemotherapeutic drugs to impair tumor resistance.

The Animal Experimental Model

“We moved to [an] animal experimental model, and we used … quite a peculiar model.  We exploited the so-called genetic engineering.  We modified human mesothelioma cells by introducing a foreign gene – a gene coming from a fish – which induce luminescence on these cells.  So these cells basically were emitting lights.”
– Giovanni Gaudino

Gleevec and its combination with other drugs had to first be tested on animals.  In preparation for animal testing, Dr. Gaudino and his team created a very special model.  By the use of genetic engineering, they modified human mesothelioma cells by introducing a foreign gene, a gene from a fish, which caused the cells to emit light.  This enabled the researchers to follow the growth or reduction of the tumor in the live animals by the use of imaging, in the same way a physician uses CT scans or other imaging techniques to see what is going on inside his patient.  So they injected special mice, called SCID mice, with the modified human mesothelioma cells and were able to observe the formation of the tumors by the use of imaging.

Gleevec and Gemcitabine: A New Combination

Next the cancer researchers treated the animals by infusing the tumors with Gleevec combined with different chemotherapeutic drugs, and they found that Gleevec and Gemcitabine were a successful combination.

“It’s quite clear that the treatment … with the two drugs, Gemcitabine and Gleevec . . . reduce a lot of the size of the tumors . . . .  And also, increase quite remarkably the survival of the mice. … [T]he pictures of the mice, I think, are quite convincing because you can see that the right mouse is doing much better than the left one.”
– Giovanni Gaudino

Gleevec & Gemcitabine (Click image to zoom)

Gemcitabine is an old and very well known drug. Gemcitabine is commonly called by its brand name Gemzar.  Gemcitabine has been approved by the FDA since 1996 and is used to treat some lung cancers and pancreatic and ovarian cancers. Dr. Gaudino’s research team knew that Gemcitabine alone was not effective on mice, neither was it effective on mesothelioma patients. But it became quite clear that the combination of Gemcitabine and Gleevec resulted in the reduction in the size of the tumors, which they could measure through imaging, and it also increased, “quite remarkably,” the survival of the mice.

From Mice to Patients: From Pilot Study to Phase II Clinical Trial

The next step, of course, was to move from animal studies to patients.  According to Dr. Gaudino who is involved in bench research, the network the scientists have established is very useful and important, because the results of their work will be published in scientific journals and this will “catch the interest of our clinician colleagues.”

Pilot Study with Gleevec and Gemcitabine (Click image to zoom)

So they started with what is known as a “pilot study” with the combination of Gleevec and Gemzar.  A pilot study comes before the real clinical trial and is usually done on a limited number of patients.  In this case there were 21 patients who had not responded to first-line conventional therapies.  The results were very encouraging: In six patients there was no progression of the disease (stable disease); in one patient there was a complete disappearance of the cancer (complete response); in eight patients there was incomplete reduction of the tumor (partial response); and in six patients, the disease didn’t stop and unfortunately the cancer continued to grow (progression).  Some patients respond better than others and some do not respond at all, which is common in clinical trials.

“And, you know, you may argue that this is not a big deal, just to stop the cancer – you won’t get rid of the cancer.  But for mesothelioma, which is so aggressive, this is a very good result.  We got also one complete response, which means complete disappearance of the cancer.”
– Giovanni Gaudino

This pilot study was followed by a phase II second line clinical trial, which is ongoing and is being validated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI).   It is expected that the results of this study will be coming out in the next few months.  Dr. Gaudino and his team are very optimistic that this therapy will lead to a longer survival.  For mesothelioma patients, the research being done by Dr. Gaudino offers a great deal of hope and promise for longer survival rates and eventually a cure for mesothelioma.

Virginia class submarine

The United States Pacific Fleet Commander Submarine Force announced on January 6, 2010, that Pearl Harbor Naval Station will be the homeport of the Navy’s newest submarine – the USS North Carolina SSN-777.  The USS North Carolina is one of only six Virginia class nuclear attack submarines in the Navy’s Fleet.  The USS North Carolina will join two other Virginia class submarines:  the USS Hawaii SSN-776, and USS Texas SSN-775.  This will make Pearl Harbor homeport to three of the six currently commissioned Virginia class submarines.

The Virginia class is the submarine of the 21st Century.  It is a nuclear powered submarine with unlimited range, armed with Tomahawk cruise missiles and MK-48 torpedoes.  It boasts a complement of 134 officers and crew.  The Virginia class is replacing the Seawolf class which was itself designed to replace the Los Angeles class nuclear submarine (of which 17 of the 62 total have now been decommissioned).  In fact, the famous USS Los Angeles is scheduled to arrive in Los Angeles Harbor tomorrow for a public decommissioning event this Saturday, January 23rd in San Pedro, CA.  Incidentally, the Los Angeles class submarine was featured in the popular novel, The Hunt for Red October by Tom Clancy, which was made into a movie starring Sean Connery.

The Virginia class submarines are being constructed by General Dynamics Electric Boat in Groton, Connecticut and Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding in Newport News, Virginia at a rate of one per year.  From 2011 to 2013, the Navy is expected to increase the annual construction to two per year for economies of scale cost savings.

The Virginia Class Submarines

The Virginia class submarines commissioned to date with their respective homeports are:

• USS Virginia SSN-774, Groton, Connecticut
• USS Texas SSN-775, Pearl Harbor Naval Station, Hawaii
• USS Hawaii SSN-776, Pearl Harbor Naval Station, Hawaii
• USS North Carolina SSN-777, Pearl Harbor Naval Station, Hawaii
• USS New Hampshire SSN-778, Groton, Connecticut

The USS New Mexico SSN-779 is scheduled to be commissioned on March 27, 2010.  Its homeport is yet to be announced.  Other Virginia class submarines in construction are:

• USS Missouri SSN-780
• USS California SSN-781
• USS Mississippi SSN-782
• USS Minnesota SSN-783
• USS North Dakota SSN-784
• USS John Warner SSN-785

These submarines are scheduled to be completed between 2011 and 2015.   An additional six unnamed subs designated “Block III” began construction in 2009.   This will bring the total number of Virginia class submarines to 18.

Pearl Harbor Historically Homeport to Many Navy Submarines

Pearl Harbor has historically been the homeport to a high percentage of the Navy’s submarine fleet.  This is due to Pearl Harbor’s strategic location and the importance submarine warfare first demonstrated in World War II.  Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard is also one of the few nuclear submarine repair facilities in the United States.

The law firm of Galiher DeRobertis Ono has represented former active duty submariners (both diesel and nuclear submarine service) as well as shipyard workers who were involved in the original construction or repair of diesel and nuclear submarines.  Our clients were exposed to asbestos dust from both direct hands-on exposure (for example, shipyard workers such as marine machinists and machinist mates) and also from bystander exposure such as stewards and cooks assigned to the submarines.  As a result, many of these men developed asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis.

Even a retired Navy captain who had been in charge of construction of nuclear submarines at Hunters Point Naval Shipyard in San Francisco, California was a client of Galiher DeRobertis Ono.  He  developed mesothelioma from his bystander exposure to deadly asbestos dust during the construction process.  Our submariner clients served in a variety of shipyards, including Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington, San Diego Naval Station, Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, California, Mare Island Naval Shipyard, California, Newport News Shipyard and Virginia Dry Dock in Virginia and Groton, Connecticut.

Mighty Mo’s Service Spans Decades

USS Missouri BB-63

The USS Missouri had a long and storied career as a U.S. Navy warship.  She is most famous for having hosted the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay at the end of World War II, as well as her role in the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa.  Less well known is the fact that USS Missouri actually fought in three wars over the course of 50 years.  In addition to two combat tours in Korea, the Mighty Mo saw action in Operation Desert Storm in 1991, firing her guns against Iraqi forces with the same bravery that she showed in the war against Japan almost a half century earlier.

The Missouri was rescued from a graveyard of Navy ships thanks to the efforts of a dedicated group of supporters, including Retired Vice Admiral Robert Kihune and Hawaii Senator Daniel K. Inouye.  She moved to her permanent home at Pearl Harbor in 1998, and opened as a museum ship in 1999.  Today, she stands as a memorial to the brave Navy veterans who served in World War II.

The men and women who work at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard are proud to be able to repair and maintain the USS Missouri.  As Shipyard Commander Capt. Gregory Thomas noted in a statement to the Honolulu Advertiser, “Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard played a key role in winning World War II, so Shipyard workers have tremendous appreciation for Missouri’s historical significance.”

Galiher DeRobertis Ono is honored to have represented many of these shipyard workers and Navy veterans in asbestos cases for over 30 years.  Some of our Hawaii clients were actually present at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, to witness the “day that will live in infamy.”  Our clients served bravely at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and in the U.S. Navy, and were often exposed to asbestos on Navy ships and submarines.  We are proud to have been able to help thousands of men and women who have contracted mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis as a result of their asbestos exposure at Pearl Harbor.