State maintains vigilance

By Johnny Brannon
Advertiser Staff Writer

Two years after terrorists leveled the World Trade Center's Twin Towers and damaged the Pentagon, Hawai'i is not about to let its guard down.

A Japan-bound passenger at Honolulu International Airport waits for clearance at a security checkpoint. In the aftermath of 9-11, travelers have become accustomed to multiple inspections. Officials say Hawai'i is more prepared than ever to cope with terrorist threats. Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser

The most extensive series of drills ever conducted in the Islands took place last month, and included an evacuation of Gov. Linda Lingle and her entire Cabinet. The officials were flown by helicopter to state Civil Defense headquarters in Diamond Head crater.

A smallpox outbreak was also simulated on the Big Island. Much of the training and preparation work is kept quiet to ensure security, but the focus on strengthening security and response capabilities remains strong.

"There is a well-prepared planning and security blanket for the state," said Hawai'i National Guard 1st Lt. Jeff Hickman. "We continue to maintain a security posture in coordination with state and federal security levels."

Air defense is one area where training has intensified. For instance, there are more practice scrambles of the jet fighters that create a defensive umbrella over the state, Hickman said.

In the early hours after the 2001 attacks by terrorists who hijacked airliners, Hawai'i Air National Guard pilots were authorized to shoot down commercial planes if they threatened O'ahu. Authorities were concerned that other planes could be hijacked, and four F-15 fighters were scrambled to escort 10 planes nearing the island.

National Guard troops no longer patrol the state's airport terminals with assault rifles, as they did in the months following the attacks. And not all vehicles parking at the airport are routinely searched.

But that can change quickly, depending on the threat level the state is operating under. Security standards and procedures that didn't exist before 2001 are in place to respond to terrorist threats.

"Now, we know that if they're doing X, in order to detect X we know what to do," said federal Transportation Security Administration Honolulu chief Sydney Hayakawa. "We have procedures that are nationwide standards."

One thing that hasn't changed tremendously since 2001 are the long lines of passengers waiting to pass through airport security checkpoints staffed by TSA screeners.

The problems weren't helped by a national reduction in TSA staff positions, officials say. Hayakawa said staff reductions at Honolulu International Airport were made through attrition, and no one was laid off or fired to meet the requirements.

State Department of Transportation spokesman Scott Ishikawa said there are plans to open a new checkpoint with three lanes at the main terminal by January. But many passengers continue to bring knives, scissors, razors, screwdrivers and other banned items through the checkpoints, only to have them confiscated, he said.

Hundreds of items are seized every day. Passengers should stow those types of items in baggage that is checked in, he said.

A bizarre incident in May underscored the need for airports to remain vigilant.

A mentally ill man pointed a gun at a security officer at the Lihu'e Airport on Kaua'i, then fired it twice into the ceiling.

Lloyd Albinio, 24, of Kapa'a, pleaded guilty on June 27 to a federal charge of interfering with airport screening personnel. He was released on condition that he continue to take antipsychotic medication and is awaiting sentencing.

Security has also been increased around state harbors, with the construction of fences and barricades.

"The main concern is, since there are a lot of trucks going in and out, making sure an unauthorized vehicle doesn't try to ram through the gates," Ishikawa said.

Hawai'i's location between Asia and the U.S. West Coast requires a special awareness of militant groups in countries such as Indonesia and the Philippines, FBI Special Agent Arnold Laanui said.

Foreign counter-intelligence — detecting and dealing with people spying on the U.S. for foreign governments — was the main focus before 2001, but that has changed.

"Post-Sept. 11, counter-terrorism has become the No. 1 priority of the FBI," Laanui said. "The whole mission of the counter-terrorism program is to detect, deter, prevent and swiftly respond to any terrorist attacks that threaten the United States' interests, domestically and abroad as well."

The FBI is one of many federal, state and local agencies that participate in a Hawai'i Joint Terrorism Task Force established after 2001.

"There's a lot of coordination that goes on with our task force partners," Laanui said.

Private health agencies have also strengthened their working relationships, said Toby Clairmont, emergency program manager for the Healthcare Association of Hawai'i. Hospitals have developed decontamination systems, acquired respiratory protective gear, stockpiled drugs and antidotes and intensified training for responding to bioterrorism, he said.

"If there was one thing that really changed, it was our perspective on working together and with state public health officials," Clairmont said. "That is now definitely front-burner. No hospital can handle an outbreak by itself."

Such attention helped make Hawai'i more prepared than some states for the threat posed by the SARS virus, he said. There are important lessons to learn from other communities hit hard by SARS, and they can help Hawai'i prepare for bioterrorism.

"Before 9-11, we largely thought at hospitals about hurricanes and other physical threats," Clairmont said. "Then 9-11 came along and changed all that. We all realized that terrorism is real and it's international."

Reach Johnny Brannon at jbrannon@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8070.