State ‘well
prepared’ for
Y2K rollover

Polls show that most Hawaii
residents feel the computer
bug poses little threat

Hawaii-based firms have no problems

By Christine Donnelly
Star-Bulletin

WE'LL know tonight. As the Year 2000 dawns around the world, the sense of excitement or dread -- depending on one's outlook -- grows in Hawaii, among the last places on Earth to greet the new century.

From ill-defined fears about computer catastrophes to virtually guaranteed expectations of fireworks mania, the state is braced for an eventful New Year's Eve 1999.

Government, corporate, law enforcement and emergency response officials expressed confidence the computer rollover from 1999 to 2000 would not cause major problems for Hawaii's critical infrastructure, including electricity and oil supplies, phone service, water, financial institutions, hospitals and the military.

And having devoted years of work and millions of dollars to rewriting errant computer codes, they were buoyed by the added advantage of seeing how Y2K unfolds in the rest of the world first.

"We're tracking worldwide. It gives us clues. We've done as much as we can and now we just have to wait and see what happens here," said James Remedios, the city's director of information technology. "I do believe we are very well prepared."

But announcer and comedian Bill Sage, who finds nothing funny about the so-called Y2K computer bug, is less hopeful, especially considering the interconnectiveness of world trade.

Not everyone optimistic

The official optimism "reminds me (of what it must have been like) at the officers' club at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 6, 1941. I'm not too confident that things are going to go that well," said Sage, who has stocked up a month's supply of rice, beans and Spam, and has a solar desalinator that makes sea water drinkable.

The potential problem stems from the inability of some computer hardware, software and embedded microchips to decipher 2000 as a valid date, which could cause uncorrected systems to malfunction.

"I think within the next 48 hours we'll find out about the power grids in Asia and Europe. If trade to the East is interrupted, it would make a dock strike here look like a picnic," said Sage, who knows he holds the minority view and said he hopes he will be proved wrong. "If you prepare and nothing happens, no big deal, so you have some extra food."

Polls have shown most Hawaii residents believe the computer problem poses little threat, but they do appear to be taking some precautions. Big-box retailers, grocery stores, banks and gas stations reported a higher-than-normal but not overwhelming demand for their goods over the past week.

"You can tell there is certainly an awareness, but people aren't going crazy. They're stocking up, but not hoarding," said Tim Bunch, assistant manager at the Wal-Mart in Mililani. Bottled water, paper products, batteries, flashlights and lanterns have all been big sellers, but no Y2K-preparedness item has sold better than firecrackers, he said. "People are making a mad rush for those."

Cash withdrawals foreseen

First Hawaiian spokesman Gerry Keir said the bank had anticipated an increase in cash withdrawals and that ATMs would be replenished throughout the weekend as needed. "There is some increase in (cash withdrawals) but nothing remarkable."

Chevron spokesman Albert Chee said the company had increased the available supply at its 71 stations statewide since Dec. 6 and there was more than enough gas to meet the increased demand, which he described as "higher than normal but not huge."

Basics were not the only end-of-the-year desirables. Tower Records at Kahala Mall reported a $13.99 greatest hits collection by the artist formerly known as Prince was selling at six times its usual rate. It contains the song "1999," with its familiar exhortation to party like it's the end of time. "We'll probably run out," said audio buyer John Gartrell, adding that the store had sold 24 copies this month, compared to four copies in November.

Finding the party of the millennium is on the minds of many. But some Waikiki hotel operators hoping for sold-out venues saw demand drop from what they had hoped for early this year. Y2K-bug travel fears kept some tourists away, premium prices thwarted others and the unusually high number of local people who have to work tonight also took a toll.

Virtually every major corporation battling the Y2K bug has extra staff working or on-call this weekend, not to mention the police, fire and other emergency service providers ready to respond to revelry-induced mishaps. Many employers are trying to make the holiday work as pleasant as possible.

"For the employees who will be here stationed around the clock in shifts from (Dec. 30) through Jan. 5 ... we do have a room dedicated for refreshments and it's pretty festive," said Nancy Downes, Year 2000 communications administrator for the Bank of Hawaii. "It's basically to keep their spirits up and keep them well fed ... and they may be allowed one glass of champagne, but there certainly won't be a lot of libation."

Bankoh president and chief operating officer Richard Dahl will be among those manning the bank's command center tonight. He'll step out at midnight to use a nearby cash machine, to reassure customers that Bankoh's automatic teller machines will be working.

Some celebrations low key

Many other Hawaii residents have decided to keep their celebrations low key -- not because they might be called into work, but because it seemed most fitting. Some will end the century in prayerful reflection, at midnight services across the islands. Others, such as Kaneohe resident Reynold Feldman, will gather with close friends. He'll be with his wife and about a dozen friends at the home of his pastor in Hawaii Kai, where they'll stay overnight.

"It just seemed like the best thing to do. I think we'll be in the mainstream because I hear a lot of people are planning to stay in," said Feldman, adding that concerns about everything from drunken drivers to heavy fireworks smoke contributed to the decision. "With it being 2000, I think (celebrations) are going to be especially thoughtful or especially wild."

Police and fire officials are bracing for the worst. Fireworks have been selling at a record pace and the weather forecast calls for light winds and no rain, meaning the smoky haze likely will linger. The Honolulu Police Department is to have 1,100 officers working tonight, 500 more than usual, as well as 19 dispatchers, 6 more than usual. Also ready to respond: the Hawaii National Guard, which will have 150 members on "status" tonight, at work and ready to help police immediately if called up by the governor. Another 150 will be on call.

Coast Guard officials foresee a crowded night on Hawaii's waterways, and will strictly enforce safe boating laws.

Both the state and county branches of civil defense have emergency operating centers staffed through the weekend, as do most major corporations.

"It could be quite a night here in Honolulu," police Chief Lee Donohue said in a recent interview, during which he offered these safety tips: "Join in the festivities, but don't drink and drive, be careful with the firecrackers, don't use illegal fireworks. Please, just use some common sense."

HAWAII-BASED FIRMS HAVE NO PROBLEMS Hawaii-based banks, phones and utilities with operations on Western Pacific islands greeted the new millennium without Y2K hitches. Operations on Guam, Saipan, and Fiji, among the first to see the year 2000, successfully rolled over into the new year without computer disruptions, according to spokespersons from Bank of Hawaii, First Hawaiian Bank, GTE Hawaiian Tel and Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. The Hawaii companies were among the world's first to test their systems, and will also be the last when the new year arrives here.