Security fears
cancel Thunderbirds
Hawaii air show

The Bowfin museum and the
USS Missouri also close to visitors

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By Gregg K. Kakesako
gkakesako@starbulletin.com

The terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon have forced the Air Force to cancel the fall tour of its aerial demonstration team, the Thunderbirds, which was to perform here next month.

Also, security concerns will keep the Bowfin submarine museum and the battleship USS Missouri, moored at Ford Island, closed for an indefinite period, Lt. Cmdr. Jane Campbell, Navy spokeswoman, said. Both World War II visitor attractions are located on Navy property at Pearl Harbor.

However, Campbell said the Navy has been able to work out its security concerns with the National Park Service, which runs the USS Arizona Memorial. The visitor center reopened yesterday, and shuttle boat trips to the battleship memorial started again.

The Navy, without specifying the security concerns, said it was quicker to work out something with a federal agency such as the park service.

Don Hess, USS Missouri Memorial Association executive vice president and chief operating officer, estimates a loss of revenue of about $10,000 a day since the battleship was forced to raise its gangplank a week ago. Until then, the Missouri was averaging 800 to 900 visitors a day seven days a week.

FILE PHOTO
The Air Force Thunderbirds team canceled an aerial
show scheduled for Oct. 27 after the terrorist attacks.

Hess said the Missouri is like any other island tourist attraction that has seen a slowdown since last week's tragic events.

"We're talking with the Navy now," Hess said, "and I have a sense with all things being equal that we may be able to resume operations on a limited scale by mid-week."

On Thursday, the Missouri Memorial Association placed 40 part-time and 20 full-time staff members on paid and unpaid leave.

Hess said the association has talked with its creditors and is seeking help from the Navy concerning its recently renegotiated $200,000 lease, since there isn't a clause that covers contingencies such as the one now being experienced.

Over the past weekend, the USS Missouri Memorial Association made available its supply of American flags to Wal-Mart, which were grabbed up by shoppers. More than 800 flags were sold.

Hess said the Missouri Association is trying to beef up its retail operations by opening a kiosk at the Aloha Tower Marketplace.

The Thunderbirds were supposed to stop at Hickam Air Force Base on the way to perform in the Pacific and Asia and return for an aerial show on Oct. 27.

However, Lt. Chris Anderson, Hickam spokesman, said that performance by the Air Force's team of F-16 combat jets has been canceled. He didn't know if the family fair and other activities planned for Oct. 27 will be held. The last time the Thunderbirds performed in Hawaii was in 1997.