Sharon Yamada, executive director of the Hawaii Housing Authority, said the cottage formerly occupied by Lanai High & Elementary Principal Norma Barroga and her two children had paint that exceeded federal standards of 5,000 parts per million of lead.
Yamada said the paint was chipping in places and lead had been found in the paint on the windowsill and floor.
"The flaking was bad," Yamada said.
Yamada said she plans to review reports from her staff to determine what to do about the cottage. Her options include demolishing the cottage and lessening the exposure to the lead paint.
Yamada said in the other three cottages, the level of lead in the paint was less than the federal standard and did not appear to be a threat.
She said lead paint seemed to be confined to the back side of cabinet doors in the cottages. Lead paint on the outside of one cottage was chipping.
Nine other teachers' cottages on Lanai built in 1991 did not contain lead paint, Yamada said.
Of the 71 teachers' cottages statewide, 34 contain some lead-based paint, according to a 1994 state survey.
Barroga criticized housing officials for failing to inform her about the lead paint when she moved into the cottage in June. She said she sanded paint off some walls to repaint the cottage.
She tested the paint with a kit bought in a hardware store and moved out after finding the paint contained lead.
Yamada said the 1994 survey was done in conjunction with a review of asbestos in school facilities at the request of the state attorney general's office.
She said the Hawaii Housing Authority informed teachers and school officials by Sept. 6 about the presence of lead in the paint, as part of a new federal law requiring disclosure.
Yamada said teachers and school officials were told to report any problems with chipping and flaking paint.
Yamada could not immediately provide a list of the 34 cottages and their locations.
Residential use of lead-based paint was prohibited after 1978.
State health officials warn recent studies have shown that long-term exposure to low levels of lead can cause learning disabilities and behavior disorders in children.
Disclosure forms and information pamphlets may be obtained at the state Department of Health Noise, Radiation and Indoor Air Quality Branch, 919 Ala Moana, Room 102, Honolulu. The telephone number is 586-5800.