Traveler-friendly security is goal
By Mike Leidemann
Advertiser Transportation Writer
The new security chief at Honolulu International Airport says he wants to give passengers as much information as possible in dealing with tighter restrictions they will face in coming months.
To apply for a federal security job at Hawai'i airports: • Online • Toll-free phone: 1-877-631-5627
Sidney Hayakawa, who last month was named chief of the airport's federal Transportation Security Agency office, said he wants to provide top-rate security without causing extra hardship to travelers.
Security jobs
"We want to be as customer friendly as possible," Hayakawa said on Friday. "We want them to know what to expect when they come to the airport and not have any last-minute surprises."
Part of the effort may include posting signs on security procedures in parking areas or outside the terminal, having greeters and employees talk to people while they wait in security lines and even partnering with Waikiki hotels to distribute flyers on security procedures.
"The more you talk to people, good things happen," Hayakawa said.
Hayakawa, a former deputy director of the state Public Safety Department, said his biggest challenge so far has been trying to bring everyone at the airport together to support security changes.
"I can't do it alone. I need the cooperation of everyone, including the Department of Transportation, the air carriers, the concessionaires, the security people, law enforcement and passengers," he said.
Hayakawa, who will oversee some 600 new federal security officers as well as all passenger and baggage screening procedures at the airport, said a private Mainland contractor will do the hiring for Hawai'i airports through a Web site and a toll-free phone line.
"Right now I don't know how well we are doing on that," he said. "At some point the company will tell us how many applicants we have here and how many are qualified."
He said many of the private security officers now employed by the airport may not meet minimum standards for the federal jobs, which include U.S. citizenship and a high school diploma or its equivalent. The deadline for having new federal officers in place is Nov. 19.
Meanwhile, two veteran law enforcement officials were named yesterday to head federal security at airports elsewhere in Hawai'i.
Lowrey Leong, a former agent in charge of the the Drug Enforcement Administration office in Honolulu, was named federal security officer in Kahului Airport.
Robert Schoonmaker, a security officer for the Department of Commerce, was named to head airport security in Lihu'e. He has been a federal criminal investigator for more than 25 years.
