State agencies coping well at 'yellow' status

By Mike Leidemann
Advertiser Staff Writer

As tightened security became the new norm for Hawai'i, officials yesterday said they are coping well with demands put on them by a faraway war.

A Department of the Army police officer uses a mirror to check under a van making a delivery at the Hale Koa Hotel in Waikiki. As a measure of increased security, the hotel has in the past few days instituted random vehicle searches at some of the property's entrances. Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser

"Things have kind of settled down and we're getting by OK, even with a lot of extra spring-break travel," Hayakawa said.

"We call it the new normalcy," said Paul Londynsky, security director for Matson Navigation, which has put new safety measures in place at its Sand Island cargo yard.

"You're probably not going to see anything different or experience any delays, but we're checking everything just a little tighter," he said. "Everybody on the West Coast, Hawai'i and Guam has tightened up in the last few days. We take our responsibility to keep the commerce flowing very seriously."

Maritime officials have warned for months that a terrorist attack using a freight cargo container is "likely," and the threat has increased with the start of war in Iraq, federal officials said this week.

"Because of the sheer volume of sea container traffic and the opportunities it presents for terrorists, shipping is uniquely vulnerable," said Asa Hutchinson, undersecretary for border and transportation security in the Department of Homeland Security.

The state is working with various agencies to combat the threat, said Fred Nunes, acting state Harbors Division administrator.

"Yes, there is a concern. The threat of containers is recognized nationally, so it's not just our harbors," Nunes said.

A state Senate committee yesterday approved a $9.3 million emergency funding bill to help pay for extra security personnel and measures at airports and harbors statewide.

The money, approved by the Transportation, Military and Government Operations committee, will come directly from airport and harbor special funds, paid for by large users of the facilities. Airports will receive $5.66 million and harbors will get $3.65 million.

"They need it," said Hayakawa. "The federal government has put a lot of new demands on them for things like random checkpoints and increased uniformed officers throughout the airports."

State Transportation Director Rod Haraga said the money will be set aside in special funds to pay for even higher security should the state raise its terror-alert level from yellow to orange or red.

"If we need additional security personnel, now we know we'll have money to pay them," he said. "If we go to another level, we might have to put the National Guard at airports, harbors or fueling stations and we'll be able to pay for that."

James Propotnick, interim state public safety director, said security procedures also have increased at the State Capitol, the governor's mansion and other state buildings, although many of the changes may not be readily visible to the public.

Visitors entering state buildings are not being searched, Propotnick said. "That's only if the state goes up to the next alert levels (orange or red)," he said.

While Honolulu police were expected to pay officers overtime for increased police presence and to man facilities such as water reservoirs and power plants, state sheriffs are not expected to work overtime at this time, Propotnick said.

People who attend events at the Blaisdell Concert Hall will be subject to bag searches, the city announced. Anyone who refuses to allow a bag to be searched could be denied entry to an event.

All purses, packages, boxes, backpacks, diaper bags or containers larger than 8-by-4-by-2 inches will be inspected before being allowed in the hall. The city said it will refund the cost of a ticket for anyone refused admission.

Meanwhile, residents for and against the war continued efforts to make their views known.

In Hilo, Hawai'i, the Malu 'Aina Center for Non-Violent Education and Action said the number of people attending its Friday afternoon anti-war vigil in front of the downtown post office increased yesterday to about 80. Normally, only a dozen or so folks show up for the weekly event, which started 18 months ago. The group was joined Wednesday and Thursday by members of the University of Hawai'i-Hilo's Global Hope Club and the Buddhist Peace Fellowship, who demonstrated along Kamehameha Avenue.

In Kona, what started as a spontaneous show of support for American troops after the first missiles hit Baghdad has become a daily event as members of the local Elks Lodge and others hold flags and wave to afternoon rush-hour motorists on Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway.

Several peace marches and vigils are planned for this weekend.

In Honolulu, the group Not In Our Name Hawai'i planned a march and rally from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at Ala Moana Park. The march begins at 10:30 a.m. near the park's Pi'ikoi Street entrance, loops into Waikiki and past the convention center before finishing about noon at its starting point.

Longtime activist Jim Albertini of the Malu 'Aina Center said marches and vigils are scheduled for 10 a.m. today and noon Monday, both beginning at the Mo'oheau Bandstand in Hilo.

The Maui Peace Action group, which has held a series of anti-war demonstrations, has announced peace vigils to be held at 7 p.m. tomorrow in Wailuku, Lahaina, Kihei, Hana and Makawao.

Advertiser writers Scott Ishikawa, Christie Wilson and Curtis Lum contributed to this report.