DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM
These exhausted Japanese passengers had a blank look yesterday after
waiting at the airport for more than five hours to catch a plane.
Unfortunately, they couldn't catch a flight and were told
to return the next day and try again.

Stranded Japanese
tourists suffer longest
airport waits

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By Leila Fujimori
lfujimori@starbulletin.com

More than 4,000 stranded Japanese tourists in Hawaii were still trying to get home yesterday as airlines struggled to deal with the backlog of travelers created when all air travel in the United States was shut down after the terrorist attacks Tuesday.

Hiroyuki Ikumi, his wife, two boys ages 4 and 5, and in-laws were among those in long lines leading to the Japan Airlines ticket counter at Honolulu International Airport. He said they got up at 6 a.m. But after seven hours of waiting in the hot, muggy airport, no seats were left for Ikumi and his family.

"My children very tired," Ikumi said, disappointed his family could not return home to Tokyo yesterday.

However, Japan Airlines ticketed them and the others in line, avoiding the need to wait in line again today.

Hundreds remained in the lines when the seats ran out.

Japan Airlines had 12 flights leave yesterday and will have 12 more tomorrow.

"There are just too many people, and it's not their fault," said Jenny Kuniyoshi, a JAL Hawaii Inc. employee. "But people are very patient and they're very appreciative once they get on."

Ryoichi Osaka, manager of passenger services for JAL Hawaii, said yesterday: "They are so tired, exhausted and worried about the next day. But we have plenty of seats available (tomorrow)."

Travelers to the mainland also dealt with long lines, but not nearly as long as those to Japan.

United Airlines said it would keep its terminal open overnight and today until 11 p.m. to accommodate passengers.

Theresa Ratcliffe was hoping to get on a plane home to her children in Maryland, near the Pentagon in Virginia, the site of one of the terrorist attacks. Ratcliffe, a widow, said she was "concerned because if something happened to me, my children would be orphaned."

Department of Transportation spokeswoman Marilyn Kali said 79 mainland and international flights arrived at and departed from Honolulu International Airport yesterday.

As for international flights, one arrived from Korea and one from Australia. Air New Zealand was to resume flights today.

Kali said the backlog of passengers should be cleared up by today or tomorrow.

Interisland travelers had little or no lines to contend with yesterday afternoon. Misao Kim of Maui said she got to the airport early thinking lines would be long, like the 21/2-hour wait she had at Kahului Airport Friday.

The airport remains under heightened security, with no curbside check-in and only ticketed passengers allowed to pass through security checkpoints.