Posted on: Thursday, April 17, 2003

Hawai'i security alert to stay at yellow level

By Gordon Pang
Advertiser Capitol Bureau

The state maintained its security alert system level at yellow yesterday while the federal government lowered the national alert level from orange to yellow.

The change in the federal level took effect at noon yesterday.

"While there still is no credible threat to Hawai'i, current intelligence indicates Hawai'i should maintain the current yellow level consistent with the federal level," Gov. Linda Lingle said. "It is important for us to remain vigilant, as our military and local security team continue to ensure our homeland security."

The governor's office said that while there have been no credible threats to Hawai'i, the decision to remain at the yellow level was based in part on intelligence reports of ongoing terrorist "chatter."

Hawai'i military facilities have retained a heightened security alert level of Bravo-plus.

The state first raised its security alert status from blue to yellow on March 19, the day the United States said Saddam Hussein and his sons should relinquish power in Iraq.

The yellow level, the highest level Hawai'i has been at since the year-old national terror alert system was implemented, signifies an elevated risk of terrorist attacks. It is the middle level on the five-tier danger scale.