The Navy secretary planned to visit Hawai'i Marines before heading to Guam to participate in the commissioning of the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Sequoia.

The Navy is doing a $1.8 million study on the feasibility of basing a carrier in Hawai'i. No such study was done for Guam.

U.S. Sen. Dan Inouye, D-Hawai'i, told The Advertiser in August the Navy was considering distributing a carrier air wing of 70 to 80 aircraft among three military bases on O'ahu and one on Kaua'i.

Infrastructure for the aircraft and jet noise are concerns, and spreading out the aircraft would reduce the impact. The bases include the former Barbers Point, the Marine Corps base at Kane'ohe Bay, Wheeler Army Airfield and Barking Sands.

If the decision is made to base one of the nation's 12 carriers in Hawai'i, it wouldn't arrive for at least five years, Inouye said.

Politicians from Hawai'i and Guam have been actively seeking a carrier.

In San Diego, home port of three carriers, the Regional Chamber of Commerce last year figured each carrier has an annual $270 million economic benefit, including $111 million in payroll spent locally and $40 million in maintenance contracts.

The carrier Kitty Hawk, based out of Yokosuka, Japan, is the only permanently forward-deployed carrier in the Pacific. The growing prominence of the region, and concerns over North Korea and China-Taiwan relations, has military planners seeking a second carrier presence.

Guam is 3,300 miles west of Hawai'i and several days sailing time closer to Asia, but falls short on infrastructure and "quality of life" issues.

Guam's congressional delegate, Madeleine Bordallo, who was traveling back to the territory, yesterday said Guam continues to lobby for a carrier.

"Our location is very important. That's how we feel," she said.

Navy officials said a decision could be announced after May, when the Pentagon is scheduled to proceed with a new round of Base Realignment and Closures and recommend which bases to be shuttered.

England said there is a "stable environment" at Pearl Harbor and he sees no downsizing. The shipyard is the state's biggest industrial employer, with 4,400 workers.

"We have a great workforce who do a lot of maintenance, a lot of our overhaul," England said. "I certainly can't see any dramatic contraction. On the other hand, the Navy's not going to have a larger number of ships in terms of total numbers. Maybe some, but certainly not a dramatic increase."

The Navy is downsizing by 8,000 sailors this fiscal year. Commanders have called for up to 375 ships to meet present needs, while the Navy has 291 warships.

England said he hasn't had any discussion with Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld since Air Force Gen. Gregory Martin last week withdrew as the nominee to lead Pacific Command based at Camp Smith.

Inouye previously had said the Pacific Command, led by admirals since 1947, is a "water command" and should continue to be led by an admiral. England said with so many joint service efforts, "a lot of different people could have this command."

"On the other hand, it's been a Navy command for a long time," England said. "We're comfortable."

Adm. Walter Doran, the four-star commander of Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor, has been mentioned as a possible candidate. Pacific Fleet yesterday had no comment.