Half a world away, the impact from London could be felt at a bus stop on Middle Street.

Some morning commuters were shocked, while others said the sudden, catastrophic loss of life has felt almost commonplace since the Sept. 11 attacks and as the United States and its allies fight in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"This is a period of general anarchy and terrorism, and I accept that as a part of life," said Jim Petersen, 53, of Kalihi, as he waited for a bus. "You just go on with life."

Curtis Kealoha, 58, of Kane'ohe, said if terrorists are going to strike, there is not a lot anyone can do.

"I'm a Vietnam veteran. I've seen things like that. It doesn't worry me. It can happen anywhere," he said. "We rely on the protection we've got — HPD —there is no sense in panicking. But then again, it can happen."

Gov. Linda Lingle, at a morning news conference, announced she had raised the state's threat level for public transit from yellow, or elevated, to orange, or high. The governor was acting on recommendations from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and state Civil Defense.

There was no specific threat to Hawai'i, but extra security measures were taken at bus depots and transit hubs, and people were asked to report any suspicious activity. The higher alert did not cover maritime or air travel because the London attacks targeted rail and bus service.

"We do not want to alarm the public, but we want everyone to be alert and vigilant," Lingle said.

Honolulu Police Chief Boisse Correa said the Islands were safe. "We want to remain vigilant. We are concerned, but at the same time, we are a safe community," he said.

Three Honolulu police officers were assigned to the bus depot on Middle Street and another three officers were posted at a depot in Pearl City. TheBus also increased its private security at a few sites where buses are stored, and crews were inspecting major facilities, according to Roger Morton, senior vice president of O'ahu Transit Services.

Bus drivers were reminded to inspect their buses before and after their routes. Passengers were not being searched, but they were asked to look for any unattended or suspicious packages and immediately inform drivers if they spotted anything.

Morton said people should not change their behavior because of the higher alert. "We want people to have a heightened sense of awareness, but we don't want them to change their activities," he said.

Private tour bus and van operators also were advised yesterday to inspect their vehicles and to watch for anything out of the ordinary from passengers.

"It's just a reminder," said Gareth Sakakida, managing director of the Hawai'i Transportation Association, a trade group that represents truckers and tour bus operators. "They know generally what their clientele looks like, so if anything is out of place, they might well be able to detect that.

"When you hear that something like this has happened, drivers naturally step up their observations."

On Maui, county Civil Defense specialist Allan DeLima said the Maui Police Department was briefed about the London situation early yesterday and advised to be vigilant. The visitor industry and bus operators on Maui also were asked to be extra cautious.

"When you start taking it too lightly, you make yourself a prime target," DeLima said. "After 9/11, we've gotten accustomed to being ready."

The Kaua'i County Civil Defense emergency operating center was activated at 5 a.m. for a briefing of government agencies, and transportation workers were put on heightened alert.

"We are saddened by the deaths that resulted from the attacks in London," Kaua'i Mayor Brian Baptiste said. "In response to the governor raising our threat condition to orange for transportation, we have briefed our transportation division staff and asked for their increased vigilance as they perform their daily functions. Drivers are inspecting their buses before and after each run and are on the lookout for unattended packages and bags."

As with the 9/11 attacks in New York and Washington, D.C., and the terrorist strikes last year on commuter trains in Madrid, Spain, people in Hawai'i, while far away from the violence, shared in the worry and pain.

Myra Ozawa, marketing director at Hawai'i National Bank, had dropped off her son at Honolulu International Airport Wednesday morning for a trip to London. Todd Ozawa, 27, and his friends, Heidianne Ho and Dean Muramoto, are attending a tournament for players of the card game, "Magic: The Gathering."

Ozawa's radio alarm clock woke her at 4:30 a.m. yesterday. The news was on and Ozawa was frantic. So were the friends and relatives of her son's friends.

"Their cell phones didn't work," said Karen Kalama, Muramoto's girlfriend. "The wireless network was down — whatever that means."

Eventually, the group got word back to their families that they were all right. Todd left a message on Myra Ozawa's voice mail at work. "At least I got to hear his voice," she said.

Ozawa said she might change her practice of waking to radio news. "That is the same way I heard about 9/11," she said. "I'm going to have to get rid of that radio."