The MAILE Alert program will use the state Civil Defense's emergency broadcast system to transmit information about the missing child, the suspect and the suspect's vehicle to the public via television and radio announcements. State highway signs will also be used to tell drivers to listen to the radio.

The name MAILE ­ short for Minor Abducted in Life-Threatening Emergency ­ honors Maile Gilbert, a 6-year-old who was abducted from a party in Kailua and murdered in 1985. Her parents, Tip and Jenny Gilbert, were present this morning. Since his daughter was taken, Tip said they have worked with a group of volunteers to assist police in child abduction cases. "We're there to stop Maile from ever being taken again, because when I go out there I am looking for Maile. And it hurts just as bad every time a child is missing."

The abduction and murder of 11-year-old Kahealani Indreginal last week hit close to home, and hurt more knowing that the MAILE Alert system would be put into operation today, he added.

However, Police Chief Lee Donohue said the MAILE Alert System would not have helped Indreginal, who did not fit the criteria used to determine whether to activate the alert.

In general, Donohue said the missing children will be 10 years old or younger, although older children will be considered on a case-by-case basis. There must also be sufficient information to indicate that the child may have been abducted and may be in immediate danger of serious bodily injury or death. There must also be sufficient descriptive information about the child, abductor and abductor's vehicle to believe that an immediate alert will help to locate the child and abductor.

"We're going to be very strict about the standards. We don't want this system to be abused," Donohue said. "We don't want to be accused of crying wolf whenever a child is missing."