Updated at 1:40 p.m., Monday, June 4, 2001

Kahului Airport reopened after bomb threat closing

Advertiser Staff

KAHULUI, Maui — Kahului Airport was reopened this afternoon after it was shut down for about four hours today due to a bomb threat, prompting officials to evacuate hundreds of people waiting for flights.

American Red Cross volunteers opened an evacuation shelter at the War Memorial Baseball Stadium in Wailuku at 11 a.m. Agency spokesperson Jocelyn Collado said volunteers are expecting as many as 400 people from the airport.

Crews with bomb-sniffing dogs have been summoned to the Maui airport, said Karlynn Kawahara, Maui County spokesperson.

"We're hoping this will be over before nightfall,'' she said.

A telephone bomb threat was received at 8:22 a.m., according to the Maui Civil Defense Agency. The airport was closed by 9 a.m.

Motorists are being detoured away from the airport at the intersection of Keolani Place and A'alele Street.

Flights to and from Maui were delayed or otherwise affrected.

Travelers were advised to check with the airlines before taking Maui flights.