Security personnel check bags at security checkpoint No. 5 at Honolulu International Airport. Cory Lum • The Honolulu Advertiser

Federal screeners began a phased-in takeover of security, assuming control of one passenger checkpoint as part of the security upgrade ordered at the nation's airports following the 9/11 attacks.

Additional checkpoints will be added as people are trained, officials said.

The new screeners operate under the federal Transportation Security Administration, which is establishing security operations in the nation's commercial airports under mandates of the Aviation and Transportation Security Act of 2001.

Formerly, security at Honolulu International was handled by Wackenhut Corp., a private firm.

Sidney Hayakawa, federal security director for Honolulu Airport, said the screening process today produced a "smooth flow" during the normal morning rush hour for two departing United Airlines flights.

Although the passenger lines were long, Hayakawa said that it was normal for that time of day. "We're shooting for 10 minutes," Hayakawa said of the wait time for passengers.

Only one of three main terminal check points is operational. Fifty-eight employees, which include screeners, all of whom received 44 hours of classroom training and are undergoing 60 hours of on-the-job training, are assigned to Checkpoint No. 5 at a United Airlines gate.

Besides the three main terminal checkpoints there will be two other checkpoints at the interisland terminal and one at the commuter airline terminal.