People gather at the corner of Halekauwila and Punchbowl streets after being evacuated from Circuit Court this morning. A sweep of the building found no bomb and people were allowed back in about 11:45 a.m. today. Photos by Ken Ige, Star-Bulletin

Some people were also evacuated from the Federal Building and an office building in the same block as the court building.

At 9:05 a.m., a court reporter received a phone call from a man who said there was a bomb in the building, said Cappy Caminos, first deputy sheriff. He said the caller told the court reporter he had notified the police and sheriff's department.

Sheriff's deputies searched common areas and rooftop of the Circuit Court building at 777 Punchbowl St. without finding anything.

About 300 court employees and another 500 people who were in the building milled around Restaurant Row during the search. People didn't appear anxious.

Honolulu police bomb technicians were ready to respond if called upon, said police spokeswoman Jean Motoyama.

She said the Sheriff's Department is handling the incident.

Tony Rivera, who was to appear before the grand jury to testify, said he was "losing out big time" because of the delay.

People called to jury duty were told to report back at 1:30 p.m. today.

Courts Administrator Nathan Kim made the decision to evacuate the building, starting at 9:10 a.m.

Meanwhile, sheriff's officers at the Kaahumanu Hale building exchange information. Photos by Ken Ige, Star-Bulletin