Kokua Line

By Gregg Kakesako

Thursday, June 13, 1996

Hildegaard Verploegen is on vacation

ANSWER: Paul Takamiya, Oahu Civil Defense spokesman, said the monthly test of the emergency broadcast system by island radio stations is "strictly voluntary."

"On the first working day of each month, we test the system just to be sure it works. The broadcast tests originate either from the State Civil Defense headquarters in Diamond Head crater or the Oahu Civil Defense building on an alternating basis."

Takamiya said as far as he knows all radio stations have been voluntarily participating in the monthly test that coincides with testing of the civil defense sirens.

"Once in a while a station might not pick it up . . . but usually it's because of inadvertent error."

Only during a national emergency are broadcasters required to participate. Such a case would be if the president of the United States wanted to broadcast a message, then all of the stations would have to participate or sign off.

Takamiya said that some island radio stations are automated. "You might not have a live person at the station and rather than sticking to that station once the sirens are sounded, it's a good idea to scan all the radio channels to find out why the sirens are being sounded."

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