The September 11th attack
Authorities keep Hawai'i on high alert

By Johnny Brannon, Robbie Dingeman and Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writers

Federal, state and local authorities in Hawai'i remained on heightened alert for terrorist retaliation yesterday as American missile and air strikes continued against Taliban targets in Afghanistan.

Airport personnel have been conducting additional security checks of vehicles entering the parking garage at Honolulu International Airport since the U.S.-led military strikes against Afghanistan began Sunday. Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser

FBI Special Agent Pamela McCullough said the bureau's Honolulu office, like others across the nation, also remained at the highest alert level.

"The current operating instructions are based on the possibility of additional terrorist activity occurring somewhere in the world," the FBI said in a written statement.

The FBI is investigating whether terrorists are responsible for the spread of anthrax bacteria that killed one man in Florida last week and has infected another.

Hawai'i's Health Department is working with hospitals to track reports of illness so that any pattern of disease here can be detected quickly, department spokeswoman Janice Okubo said.

"We have stepped up our surveillance at hospitals and clinics around the state," state Health Director Bruce Anderson said. "We're checking with them twice a day now, making sure there isn't any unusual occurrence of illness in the medical facilities.

Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris said he has been watching the anthrax cases in Florida closely. "We're very concerned about biological and chemical attacks."

Police officers and security guards were deployed around some of O'ahu's 162 reservoirs and booster pump sites, but officials said no specific threats had been made against the water supply.

"We just want to be extra careful at this point in time," Honolulu Board of Water Supply deputy manager Donna Kiyosaki said. Other water sites are under camera surveillance, she said.

The state Civil Defense and National Guard were under strict federal orders not to reveal what level of alert they had been placed on, but officials said fighter planes continued to patrol the skies.

O'ahu's Emergency Operations Center remained activated for a second day under the mayor's orders. Representatives from the fire and police departments and other agencies were on hand to facilitate any emergency response that might be necessary.

"We're raising our awareness level, obviously, but as to the particular level, it's all confidential," state Civil Defense branch chief for training, education and information Leighton Ah Cook said.

National Guard on duty

The Coast Guard continued maintaining increased security zones around ships and harbors. Ships entering all U.S. ports are required to give 96 hours notice, an increase from 24 hours since the Sept. 11 attacks.

National Guard soldiers were on duty at Honolulu airport and will be deployed to major Neighbor Island airports on Thursday, Maj. Charles Anthony said.

"We're at the appropriate level of force protection," he said. "And the Hawai'i Air Guard is providing air defense for the state."

Anthony yesterday said the Guard is able to quickly provide trained assistance at airports where other agencies don't have enough people to handle all the increased security requirements.

Guard personnel also have security clearances. "They're all weapons-qualified; they're all disciplined; they know how to work as a cohesive team," Anthony said.

He said the airport work is expected to continue for about six months until permanent new security measures can be put into place under federal supervision. Until then, Anthony points out that the duties aren't that much different from responding to natural disasters, where they are called in to help with short notice.

One difference immediately noted by travelers is that Guard members wear weapons to work. Anthony would not comment directly on what would prompt the military members to use their weapons at the airport.

"They're carrying weapons but we will not comment on under what circumstances they will use them."

Anthony said the Army and Air National Guard officials understand the mayor's concern about trying to prevent members who serve as police and firefighters from having to leave those key jobs to deploy with the guard.

"We are doing everything that we can to minimize the impact on what we consider first responders," he said. "We understand how vitally important they are."

Harris has estimated that 8 percent of police and fire personnel serve in the Guard or reserves. Anthony said only a handful of police have been called to duty so far. He did say that if an entire unit is mobilized, then local officials could not selectively leave some members behind to help at their regular jobs. "If a unit is mobilized, there's not very much we can do about it."

Travelers face tight security

At the Honolulu International Airport yesterday, passengers were funneled through security checkpoints as heavily armed Hawai'i National Guard troops stood by.

All passengers were searched from head to toe, asked to undo belt buckles, had their carry-on bags searched, and were frisked by airport security. Travelers carrying bottled water also were asked to take a drink before being allowed to take it on the plane.

Passengers didn't seem to mind. In fact, National Guard personnel said the response has been positive so far.

Lt. David Hatcher II yesterday afternoon was starting his second shift at the airport since the National Guard was ordered to beef up security Sunday. The 31-year-old Nanakuli resident said many people have thanked the troops for being there.

"The public appreciates our presence here. I think the people are comforted by seeing us here," Hatcher said. "People come up and pat us on the back and say they're happy we're here."

Hatcher could not speak specifically about the guard's operations or tactics, but said, "We keep our eyes open for anything that's threatening."

"It's a little bit difficult for us to find a balance between looking threatening and not being threatening," he said. "We want to be a deterrent for anybody who wants to do bad to our public. In the same sense, somebody who passes security comes up and wants to talk to us, we're more than happy to say, 'Aloha , how you're doing?' People need to remember we are local boys too."

Sgt. Henry Pilanca Jr. agreed that the response from the public has been positive. The 29-year-old Kalihi resident, who is on leave from his job at Costco, said his wife recently was laid off from her job at the Hilton Hawaiian Village and he has extra incentive to help tourists feel safe in Hawai'i.

"If I can do my part to help the passengers feel comfortable, the more the merrier," said Pilanca, who volunteered for the airport duty. "The money part, we're gonna take a hit. But I felt I needed to do something for my kids, as well as the state of Hawai'i and the nation."

Advertiser staff writer Yasmin Anwar contributed to this report.