this is "nightline." >> tonight, nightmare in paradise. >> we are getting rashes, and then the gastro pain. >> jet fuel spilling into pearl harbor's drinking water. military families in hawaii saying it made them sick. >> i went to go make my husband's drink and pulled ice out of the freezer, and it was pure yellow jet fuel ice. you could smell it. >> what the navy's investigation found. >> the buck stops with you. >> i'm the executive agent right now for this. >> and why some now claim the navy is harboring toxic secrets. plus, mad honey, a literary dream team. jody picoult and general my

boyan, joining forces from a ripped from the headlines project. >> i don't know if a book can change the world, but i certainly hope it can change one or two hearts. >> an instant best-seller. what they can say about book fans. >> i'm afraid that "mad honey" is going to be banned. >> i'm confident that it will be. and tina turner. ♪ what's love got to do, got to do with it. >> what's love got to do with the latest honor for the legendary singer. everything. >> "nightline" will be right back. are you feeling sluggish or weighed down? metamucil's new fiber plus collagen can help. when taken daily, it supports your health, starting with your digestive system. metamucil's plant-based fiber forms a gel to trap and remove the waste that weighs you down, helps lower cholesterol and promotes healthy blood sugar levels. while its collagen peptides help support your joint structures. so, start feeling lighter and more energetic by taking metamucil every day.

try metamucil fiber gummies made with a prebiotic, plant-based fiber blend that helps promote digestive health.

thanks for joining us. tonight the splendor of a hawaiian paradise spoiled by contaminated water. did a jet fuel leak pollute their drinking water, making them violently ill and suffer from chronic illnesses? tonight, how the government is responding to a federal lawsuit filed by military families who say the navy is harboring toxic secrets. here is abc's will carr. >> come on. come on. are you going to get up? you awake? >> reporter: jamie, her 9-year-old son and daughter say they're waking up from a

nightmare that started back in paradise. >> let's get real quick and then you can play with him. >> reporter: jamie, her husband ryan, a master diver in the navy, and their two kids moved to after they all fell ill while living at hick ham in hawaii. >> i was getting lethargic. i was getting rashes. and then the gastro pain. >> her kids' teeth were falling out and lesions broke out on their heads. jamie says she vividly remembers the moment she discovered the source of what she believes is making her family sick. >> i went to go make my husband's drink, and pulled ice out of the freezer, and it was pure yellow jet fuel ice. you could smell it. >> reporter: it's that jet fuel that jamie claims is making her family sick, and they say they were first exposed while living on base in hawaii. built during world war ii and set amongst hawaii's rich

landscapes is red hill, a storage facility that holds more than 175 million gallons of fuel and sits just 100 feet above one of the island's main aquifers that supplies the drinking water to over 700,000 people. the navy now admits that last year the fuel facility had two leaks, one in may spilling nearly 19,000 gallons of jet fuel, and another around thanksgiving, spilling 12,000 more gallons of fuel. this video reported by the online publication "civil beat" shows that leak, which impacted the water for 93,000 people. >> the fuel gushing like a firehouse into the red hill tunnel on november 20th. and the navy really found itself unable to stop it. >> reporter: christina is a reporter for honolulu civil beat. >> it was the state health department that had to step up and tell people don't drink the water. the navy's response from the outset was really bungled. they waited an entire week after

fuel gushed into that tunnel to shut down the drinking water well, which was located just 380 feet away. >> reporter: a short time later, the department of health received complaints of people smelling fuel in their water. families said they started getting sick, and that some were racing to emergency rooms. they allege that the navy initially downplayed the health risk of the leak. >> i was told flat-out they could not say anything because they were waiting on guidance from the army for two days, when we could smell the fuel in the water. >> so i acknowledge i did not send out a message saying do not drink the water. >> reporter: now a new lawsuit filed in federal court say the navy hash erred toxic secrets turning once healthy adults a around children into walking nightmares who suffered from seizures, gastrointestinal disorders, neurological issues, burns and rashes, all from drinking contaminated water. dacia freeman who lived on base say everyone in her family,

including her three young healthy kids grew severely ill. >> we were exposed from may to november. that is a lot of time to be drinking jet fuel, bathing in jet fuel, all of these things. >> reporter: her family experienced abdominal pain, skin rashes and migraines after using the water in their home on the base. >> my son got these terrible rashes on his lower half, which turns out was we were bathing him at the time. he had just turned 1 years old. but now we're thinking potentially chemical burns. >> reporter: jamie says her son's health was hit hard. >> if water would even touch his tongue and lips, he would projectile vomit. >> reporter: an investigation by the u.s. pacific fleet found the water contamination was a result of the navy's ineffective immediate responses to the 2021 fuel leaks and a failure to learn from prior incidents. >> in november 20th, a trolley was operating in the tunnel, and it hit one of the spigots, but it broke.

it spewed like a shower. and then at that point we had the event where the fuel was released. >> reporter: captain cameron gersima is naval systems engineering command hawaii. let's go back to november. what specifically was in the water? >> i would say that it was -- it was jp-5. >> reporter: jp-5 is a jet fuel propellant used by the navy. in the court filings, four fmilies, including the simics and the fine feinds claim they not only got stick but are experiencing chronic issues. >> it's caused issues for all of us. gemma, she has kidney issues. she has severe leg pain. milo as well. >> my husband has had all sorts of gi issues, and has been in so much pain. he's being seen by neurology and by a gastro specialist. >> reporter: dacia freeman says her son noah has been in and out

of the hospital since last year. >> noah has dealt with vomiting, diarrhea, and he is really struggling. he is doing worse and it didn't seem to get better. >> reporter: captain michael mcginnis is the u.s. pacific fleet's lead doctor addressing the spills. >> it was during a very brief period of time. we have no evidence that supports a chronic long-term ongoing event as far as exposure and contamination. >> reporter: the families tell us that's just not true. they tell us they're still experiencing symptoms. they tell us they're still going to the hospital right now. >> any family with a medical concern, this is exactly what we want them to do. we want them to come in and be seen. >> reporter: we have a family who just a couple of minutes ago tells us 12-year-old noah freeman is in the hospital right now with liver issues. how do you square that with saying that the majority of this was over after december? >> well, one family affected is one family too many. >> reporter: it's more than one family. >> and what i would say to these families, please come, in let us see you. >> reporter: i showed my

exchange with captain mcginnis to noah's mom dacia. >> his response is extremely scripted response is what it feels like, but not a response that's effective. everything he has mentioned we have done. it doesn't work. >> reporter: these families say they don't trust the navy right i know. they don't think the navy has been transparent. they feel they've been kept in the dark throughout this process. >> i'm fully committed to the health and safety of all our families. and i will not stop. >> reporter: christina bear represents the families who have filed a suit against the navy. >> they haven't accepted responsibility for the extent of the harm. they're telling people there is no chronic risks. that's not true. my clients have chronic effects. >> reporter: after protests and last year's leaks, the red hill fuel facility has been shut down. a joint task force has been launched, a and the navy is installing 12 new groundwater wells to monitor where the fewee u.s. def hdi secretary lloyd austin toured the fuel facility after naming a new joint task force that is now

in charge of removing the fuel. rear admiral steven burnett is in charge for the base. the buck stops with you. >> i'm the executive agent right now for this. >> so if people feel like they're not getting the right answers, the right responses, they can come to you? >> they can come to me. >> reporter: and believe that they are going to get their issues addressed? thinking is a very important mission. i want to protect the community and the families. i want to protect the environment, and i want to protect the water. >>reporter: the navy is now figuring out how to get the remaining fuel in the red hill tanks, more than 175 million gallons, out of the facility, a process the department of defense expects to take until july of 2024. >> this is a box of clothing that we've kept because we don't know what to do with it. you can literally still smell the fuel. this is 20 years, 18 years of memories. >> reporter: for jamie and her family, memories of their life before this ordeal are now

fuel-soaked and forever stained. >> i'm still hoping that we'll have accountability and make sure that those that are sick get continuum of care, and we make sure this never happens again. >> our thanks to will. up next, "mad honey." authorities jodi picoult and jennifer finney boylan on their best-seller that has fans buzzing. i've always had trouble falling asleep and staying asleep, you know, insomnia. but then, i found quviviq, an fda approved medication for adults with insomnia. and i'm glad i found it. you wouldn't believe some of the things people suggested to help me sleep. nature sounds? ahh, no thanks. my friend's white noise idea. nope. and i'm not counting sheep.

not on the...carpet. insomnia can impact both my days and my nights. so i know how important a good night's sleep is. that's why i take quviviq nightly. quviviq could help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer; and more sleep at night may mean feeling less tired during the day. maybe i should tell them how it works, taye? quviviq works differently than medications you may have taken in the past. quviviq is thought to target one of the biological causes of insomnia - overactive wake signals. do not take quviviq if you have narcolepsy. don't drink alcohol while taking quviviq or drive or operate heavy machinery until you feel fully alert. quviviq may cause temporary inability to move or talk or hallucinations while falling asleep or waking up. quviviq may cause sleepiness during the day. quviviq may lead to doing activities while not fully awake that you don't remember the next day like walking, driving and making or eating food. worsening depression including suicidal thoughts may occur. most common side effects are headaches and sleepiness. it's quviviq. ask your doctor if it's right for you.

my most important kitchen tool? my brain. so i choose neuriva plus. unlike some others, neuriva plus is a multitasker supporting 6 key indicators of brain health. to help keep me sharp. neuriva: think bigger. ♪♪ whenever heartburn strikes get fast relief with tums. it's time to love food back. ♪ tum tum tum tum tums ♪ hold on... you're a night manager and mom. and the bill payer, baker, and nightlight maker? that's a lot. so, adding “and student” might feel daunting.

but what if a school could be there for all of you? career, family, finances and mental health. -happy birthday. -happy birthday buddy. well, it can. national university. supporting the whole you. detect this: living with hiv, i learned i can stay undetectable with fewer medicines. that's why i switched to dovato. dovato is for some adults who are starting hiv-1 treatment or replacing their current hiv-1 regimen. detect this: no other complete hiv pill uses fewer medicines to help keep you undetectable than dovato. detect this: most hiv pills contain 3 or 4 medicines. dovato is as effective with just 2. research shows people who take hiv treatment as prescribed and get to and stay undetectable can no longer transmit hiv through sex. don't take dovato if you're allergic to its ingredients, or if you take dofetilide. taking dovato with dofetilide can cause serious

or life-threatening side effects. hepatitis b can become harder to treat while on dovato. don't stop dovato without talking to your doctor, as your hepatitis b may worsen or become life-threatening. serious or life-threatening side effects can occur, including allergic reactions, lactic acid buildup, and liver problems. if you have a rash or other allergic reaction symptoms, stop dovato and get medical help right away. tell your doctor if you have kidney or liver problems, or if you are, may be, or plan to be pregnant. dovato may harm your unborn baby. use effective birth control while on dovato. do not breastfeed while taking dovato. most common side effects are headache, nausea, diarrhea, trouble sleeping, tiredness, and anxiety. detect this: i stay undetectable with fewer medicines. ask your doctor about switching to dovato.

it's not often that two literary titans join force tosco author an instant best-seller. when you meet jodi picoult and jennifer finney boylan, it's clear why they're able to turn out engrossing page-turner's. but why are their books being banned? and what do they have to say about it? >> there are all these book bans now throughout this country. and i'm afraid that "mad honey" is going to be banned in the south and other places. >> i'm confident that it will be. >> well. >> for now, "mad honey" is still on the shelves, and on "the new york times's" best-sellers look, debuting at number three, to be precise. it's the work of two highly acclaimed two, highly prolific authors that dive into some of today's most divisive topics. >> years ago olivia mackey escaped an abusive marriage, taking her son and starting over. now she is a beekeeper. asher is 18. he is head over heels for a new

girl in town. one day he gets a phone call, lilly is dead and asher is being questioned by the police. to me this is a book about whether the past really stays in the past, about gender, identity, and the nuances of how we become who we're supposed to be. >> and what do we owe the people that we love about telling them about who we have been. i can tell you as a transgendered woman, i am haunted by that question sometimes. because when i meet someone new, do i need to reveal my past to them? is that who i am now? >> but what makes you so convinced that the book might get banned? >> well, let me speak as someone whose got five current bans on a book of mine. >> oh you win. i've only got one. >> i'm banned all the time. and i'm banned for a book that i sometimes don't even understand why it's being banned. >> reporter: the book in question, picoult's 2007 novel about the aftermath of a school shooting commit bade bullied teen. "19 minutes" last tally was

being banned in five different school districts and five different states, this is a favorite one, including connecticut, which had at one point when the book came out made it curriculum for their schools and created an anti-bullying curriculum for teachers to use with it. >> reporter: and now it's banned? >> yeah. that kind of tells you what the ac of the world has done over the past ten years or so since it came out. books are being banned today not because they're bad books, but because they're dangerous books, because they do inspire thought and conversation and empathy. and for a lot of people, that's terrifying, because it tears down the walls of your echo chamber. >> reporter: meanwhile, we're here at the new york hilton midtown. the roof is home to six urban bee hives. 400,000 buzzing guests and their queens. a nod to the main character's olivia's beekeeping, something jodi said she spent months researching, even becoming an apprentice beekeeper.

>> for me it was the idea there is this matriarchy in a bee world. i love that. and i wanted to use that metaphorically in our story. >> jenny, this book in many ways is your dream. >> i literally had a dream, may 2017, and the dream was i was co-authoring a book with jodi picoult. and the first thing i did is i tweeted that out. and jodi happened to be online at that moment and sent me a dm like seconds later that said. >> what was it about? she told me it was kind of a plot about a mother and a son who was in love with a girl who gets killed. and i was let's do it. let's write it. >> at the end of that conversation, i said to jodi, gee, tomorrow i hope dream that i'm co-authoring a book with stephen king. >> and i said don't we all! >> amazing. >> reporter: but the dream project came with challenges along the way. tell us a little bit about your process. i mean, this can't be easy to co-author a book.

>> all right. it literally is a book that began as a dream. and then we had to do the work. and the first thing we had to do was figure out what the plot was going to be. and for me that was really hard, buzz because i usually -- i kind of fly by the seat of my pants. i let the story reveal itself to me as i'm telling it. well, you can't do it if it's a murder story. you can't get to the last chapter and say i don't know who did it. how do i know? . that is not how i work at all, ever. >> you're more of a -- >> a plotter. >> reporter: throughout the novel, the authors explored gender identity issues through the lens of a trans character. >> for some of your readers, this may be the first time they're encountering a trans character with such depth. did you feel a certain amount of responsibility or pressure? >> i always feel that pressure. as a transgender person, as a very public person, sometimes i feel like i have to be the jackie robinson of the transgender movement, that i always have to be, you know, perfect. and i can't be perfect. i can tell a pretty good story

on a good day, though. and by the time you find out that there is a trans character in this book, you have already fallen in love with them. >> and that's the point. the point is to make you question your assumptions. because even if you know there is a trans character in this book, you're probably not going to know which one it is right off the bat. >> this country is in the middle of a storm around transgender identity. and what we're forgetting is that these are -- we are real people who live complex lives, that we're vulnerable. and that we are real. >> reporter: while trans rights are a continuing political flash point, jodi and jenny hope this novel will help open hearts and minds thinking is a book that if the people who are aligned against us right now were to read, maybe their heart would open a little bit. and i don't know that a book can change the world, but i certainly hope it can change one or two hearts. >> reporter: you said you don't

want people to take something away from the novel. you want people to give. >> i want them to give it thought. i want them to give it a chance, i want them to give a damn. i think people make a lot of judgments about those folks that they don't know very well. it's not about trans issue. it's about people. it's about people like you and me. and coming up, tina turner, the private dancer singer has another honor. i have moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. now, there's skyrizi. ♪things are getting clearer♪ ♪i feel free to bare my skin♪ ♪yeah, that's all me♪ ♪nothing and me go hand in hand♪ ♪nothing on my skin♪ ♪that's my new plan♪ ♪nothing is everything♪ achieve clearer skin with skyrizi. 3 out of 4 people achieved 90% clearer skin at 4 months. in another study, most people had 90% clearer skin, even at 4 years. and skyrizi is just 4 doses a year,

after 2 starter doses. ♪it's my moment, so i just gotta say♪ ♪nothing is everything♪ serious allergic reactions and an increased risk of infections, or a lower ability to fight them, may occur. tell your doctor if you have an infection or symptoms, had a vaccine or plan to. ♪nothing is everything♪ now's the time to ask your doctor about skyrizi, the number one dermatologist prescribed biologic. learn how abbvie could help you save. just between us, you know what's better than mopping? anything! at the end of a long day, it's the last thing i want to do. well, i switched to swiffer wetjet, and it's awesome. it's an all-in-one, so it's ready to go when i am. the cleaning solution actually breaks down dirt and grime. and the pad absorbs it deep inside, so it prevents streaks and haze better than my old mop. plus, it's safe to use on all my floors, even wood. swiffer wetjet? so worth it. best. decision. ever. love it, or your money back.

and finally tonight, tina turner is a barbie doll. ♪ you're simply the best, b♪ >> with hits like the best and we don't need another hero -- ♪ we don't need another hero ♪ >> the singer has gotten plenty of honors. now mattel is celebrating the living legend with her own barbie doll. ♪ oh, what's love got to do, got to do with it ♪ >> it's in honor of the 40th anniversary of her classic, "what's love got to do with it." barbie tina wearing the black

mini dress paired with a denim jacket, sheer black tights and stilettos, the same outfit she wore in the iconic 1982 music video. and that's "nightline" for tonight. you can watch all of our full episodes on hulu. we'll see you right back here same sometime tomorrow. thanks for staying up with us. good night, america.