Thanksgiving keeps Honolulu airport busy
| • | Cultures add distinctive flavors to Thanksgiving in the Islands |
| • | Stuffing mix scarce for feasts of bounty |
| • | What's open and closed today |
By Karen Blakeman
Advertiser Staff Writer
Security lines were long on the interisland side of Honolulu International Airport terminal as the Thanksgiving-eve rush hit, but travelers seemed to take it all in stride.
Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser
Many were heading home for the first big holiday since federal screeners took over and the travelers said, all things considered, things were going pretty smoothly.
Thanksgiving travelers were lined up yesterday for packed flights at Honolulu International Airport.
"Not too bad," said Sean Gutekanst, a Honolulu resident who was headed back to the Big Island for the weekend. "It's a lot faster than I would have thought."
"Parking was tight," said Nancy Brown, who was traveling to Lana'i with her husband and sons. "But we lucked out and found a spot."
Aloha and Hawaiian spokesmen said interisland flights were packed for the holidays, and extra flights were added in some cases. Airport officials said the interisland side of long-term parking was packed, but plenty of spaces were left on the international and Mainland side of the terminal, where travel was slower.
• Have someone drop you off or pick you up, or take a taxi, rather than drive yourself. • Honolulu airport officials suggest that even interisland passengers use the main parking lot. • Wrap gifts after you arrive at your destination. Wrapped gifts in both checked and carry-on baggage may be opened by security screeners. • Pack all film in carry-on baggage. Luggage screening equipment will damage undeveloped film. • Avoid wearing clothing or accessories with metal that will set off checkpoint alarms. For more tips, visit the Transportation Security Administration site.
Security lines for Aloha and Hawaiian flights departing for the Neighbor Islands snaked out the door and 50 yards down the sidewalk, but the line was moving fast and passengers seemed calm and upbeat.
Travel tips
Federal screeners said most of the people seemed pleasant and happy as they passed through security. Even the dreaded order to remove shoes for screening seemed to be taken in stride.
"Our mantra here," said Sidney Hayakawa, the federal security director for the Honolulu airport, "is greet the passenger, help the passenger, screen the passenger and thank the passenger. Our vision here in Honolulu is to provide world-class security and deliver it with aloha."
The Transportation Security Administration took over all screening at the Honolulu airport by Oct. 12, and security at all airports in the country is now under federal control.
Passengers seem to be in better spirits this year over last, Hayakawa said. More are arriving earlier at the airport, and fewer are accidentally leaving pocket knives and Leatherman tools in their carry-on luggage, he said.
The TSA, as well as the Hawai'i Department of Transportation and several consumer organizations, are trying to put out information to allow passengers to screen themselves before they hit the metal detectors.
Information from TSA is available at www.tsatraveltips.us.
The state department of transportation site has information at www.state.hi.us/dot.
The Air Transport Association, the trade association for airlines, has information at www.airlines.org/public/news.
