A U.S. Coast Guard Cutter stands guard in Honolulu Harbor near Sand Island at 5 p.m. after the bombing began in Baghdad. Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser

Reality of attack dawns in Hawai'i

By Dan Nakaso and Karen Blakeman
Advertiser Staff Writers

The U.S. attack on Iraq yesterday elicited strong feelings and reactions across the Islands — from stockpiling toilet paper, rice and bottled water, to worrying about Hawai'i's economy.

Hawai'i residents and visitors showed their support, protested loudly or just kept their opinions private.

At Honolulu International Airport, tourists talked about the safety of air travel. Lei stand owners said they feared that Hawai'i's economy would suffer.

The Muslim Association of Hawai'i also issued a statement that disagreed with using violence and war to achieve peace.

"However, ... as patriotic Americans, Hawai'i Muslims believe that this debate is over and we close ranks, look to the future and pray that this nightmare ends soon," the statement said. "We are praying for the safe return of our young American men and women, many of which not only share our nationality but our religion as well, and the safety of the innocent Iraqi people."

Yesterday, people throughout the Islands joined others around the world in counting down President Bush's 48-hour deadline for Saddam Hussein and his sons to give up power and leave Iraq. Tourists in Waikiki gathered around TV sets in hotel bars and restaurants, or sat quietly in their rooms, watching as President Bush described the start of the attack.

Jandee Abraham of Honolulu and David Nichols of Hawai'i Kai watched the start of the war on television at the Sears store at Ala Moana Center.

"It makes me uneasy," said Abraham, a flight attendant for Hawaiian Airlines.

"But," added Nichols, a Hawaiian Airlines pilot, "it could be over that much sooner."

Hank Teuton, who works for the Coast Guard in Washington, D.C., and is here on business, was talking to his wife by telephone when Bush made his address to the nation. They listened together to the president.

When it was over, Teuton changed his plans to go to the beach or the pool.

"It didn't feel right to sit by a pool in Hawai'i while bombs are falling," Teuton said. "I thought, 'Maybe I should sit in my room in prayer.' Saddam was desperate and needed to be removed, but ... I didn't like to see the U.S. make the first strike. I have problems with the ethics of that."

In the parking lot of the military-operated Hale Koa Hotel, someone had written on the windshield of a dusty Ford Expedition: "Deployed veteran, please clean me."

Lora Eastman owns a cleaning business in Des Moines, Iowa, and was like many who supported yesterday's attack.

"I feel like it was the right thing to do," she said. "I totally support President Bush. He's exhausted every other alternative. ... I'd rather we take care of it now than let it happen again, the whole thing, the 9/11 thing from happening again."

George "Bucky" Vasconcellos, 44, from Pukalani, Maui, and his wife, Debra, 42, don't usually follow the news. But they will now that America is at war.

"It's been 12 years of him (Saddam) not doing what he's supposed to do," George Vasconcellos said. "Get in there and get out already."

Kathleen Ho, a photographer from Lawa'i, Kaua'i, said: "I'm disappointed that those in power chose this as an option. It feels like they're opening Pandora's Box and risking the future for our country and the world."

About two dozen anti-war protesters mobilized by 6 p.m. and gathered along Ala Moana Boulevard near the Federal Building with "No War!" signs, drums and a bullhorn.

"We're going to be protesting this with all our hearts to try and stop the U.S. from having a political victory with this war," said organizer Carolyn Hadfield.

"They've changed to pre-emptive strikes and to ignoring international treaties."

Emanuel Ochoa, 44, said he fought for America in the Army during the Gulf War, but came to protest because "I believe this war is absolutely wrong."

A few passing motorists honked their support. But United Parcel Service driver Gregory Alonzo was not one of them. Alonzo slowly cruised his brown delivery truck past the rally lineup and issued his own protest.

"You should be supporting the troops," he shouted. "I can't believe you guys. I'm on standby right now. My father, your fathers fought for our freedoms. You need to go protest in France. We liberated them twice already."

Later, when the protest moved to Waikiki, 76-year-old Thomas Panzek watched in disgust. Panzek, a Navy veteran from World War II, said: "My colors are red, white and blue. Not yellow. They didn't get rid of Hitler fast enough and look what he did."

At the Costco warehouse store in Iwilei yesterday, customers emerged pushing cart after cart filled with bags of rice, stacks of canned goods, and giant-sized packages of bottled water and toilet paper.

An average of 100 people or more per hour entered the store yesterday than the day before, said Costco employee Lane Peavy.

Peavy, a 15-year employee of the Costco chain, said the company anticipated the consumer anxiety and brought in containers full of the products most in demand.

"We are not worried about running out," Peavy said. "We are way prepared."

Dustin Nakatsu, 24, filled his cart with bottled water and toilet paper. He said the products are nonperishable so he doesn't mind having extra. He filled up "just in case they run out."

Store manager Robert Loomis said he normally keeps a 2 1/2-week supply of popular items, with more constantly arriving in the Islands. A shortage could not occur, Loomis said, unless the shipping industry develops problems — which shipping officials don't anticipate.

An hour after the war began, there were no noticeable security changes at Honolulu International Airport. Cars entering the parking structures were not backed up in long lines. And passengers moved steadily past security checks with no apparent delays.

Kin and Lenore Ching of 'Aina Haina were waiting in line for their Continental Airlines flight to Boston to visit their son. While the couple also planned to travel to Rhode Island and New York, Kin Ching said he was "a little nervous" about flying but, then, "you can't be afraid of fear."

He said he supported the U.S. action to prevent "another Hitler."

Business yesterday afternoon at the airport lei stands was slow and many owners said they didn't expect that to change anytime soon.

Arthur's lei stand owner Lillian Cameron said business is the worst it's been in the more than 50 years she's been in operation.

"In the last 10 years, business has slowly been going down," Cameron said. "But business was picking up before 9/11 and, bang, it went right down and we're struggling to survive. I don't know how we're going to do it."

On the streets of Waikiki yesterday, Gina Fukeda's thoughts were neither on the economy or in support or opposition for the war.

"I feel so sad for the people," said Fukeda, 46, of McCully. "The U.S. soldiers, the Iraqi people — everybody."

Advertiser staff writers James Gonser, Will Hoover, Curtis Lum, Jan TenBruggencate and Christie Wilson contributed to this report.