STAR-BULLETIN / SEPTEMBER 2001
Shortly after the terrorist attacks, the state unemployment office in the Keelikolani Building overflowed with applicants.
Hawaii faces the future The unthinkable can and does happen.
and wonders, ‘What if?’
By Erika Engle
eengle@starbulletin.comIt is a lesson we learned a year ago with effects that still ripple into our daily lives.
As lightning can strike twice one is left to wonder: "What if the unthinkable were to happen again?"
[ WE REMEMBER ]
State, business and tourism leaders all say while they would never want the country to suffer a similar attack, Hawaii could recover, should it have to.
"Of course we can and the 'God forbid' goes with it," said Frank Haas, director of tourism marketing for the Hawaii Tourism Authority.
"The way the industry came together after 9/11 is an example of how we can respond to challenges," he said.
Gov. Ben Cayetano said "Hawaii is in a much better position today to weather a 9/11 attack. Having learned from actual experience, state, county and federal governments have developed a contingency plan to deal with terrorist activity in Hawaii. So on the security side, Hawaii is very well-prepared."
The sentiment was echoed by Jim Tollefson, president of the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii.
"Definitely yes, we would survive another attack. Let's hope there will not be one, but we would survive," he said.
"We saw a lot of coming together of people and groups in Hawaii after 9/11, pulling together, seeking solutions. I would see that happening again."
A year ago the Chamber and other organizations banded together to form the "Buy Hawaii" campaign. The goal, he said, was to "help people focus on purchasing locally produced goods and services and spending money here in Hawaii and that process continues today."
Tourism's vulnerability in the face of terrorism is of particular importance to the state.
"Tourism in particular is affected by how terrorist activities affect travel," said Cayetano. "Having gone through the experience once, Hawaii's businesses and the state government know what to expect and should be prepared for another 9/11."
Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau President Tony Vericella believes the state is, in fact, stronger as a result of coping with Sept. 11.
"Everybody really pulled together and proved not only that we can rebound from these tragedies," Vericella said, "but we have the ability to even find ways of refocusing our energy and attention and finding our core strengths and getting even better coming out.
"Hawaii came together in a way that no other place did, with respect to taking care of the people stranded here or diverted here," he said.
Vericella cited first-hand accounts from some HVCB personnel who found themselves stranded on the mainland and found themselves lacking information and service.
"People in Hawaii are so used to (service) and coming together ... that they think it happens everywhere," but that was not the case, he said.
Haas added, "Coming out of this whole experience, people have found new reasons to travel, to come together with family and friends and experience life. While we certainly don't want a tragedy to instigate that, that is a natural response to the 9/11 tragedy."
After Sept. 11, 2001, officials expanded Hawaii's disaster contingency plans to include mainland emergencies. The plan
>> Step 1: Notification of the governor, key staff, the state civil defense liaison. First responders include police and fire depart-ments, National Guard leadership, state and federal law enforcement.
>> Step 2: Activation of the state's emergency operations center in the Birkhimer Tunnel.
>> Step 3: Evaluation of the state's alert status. Increasing security status spurs measures to maintain government, power, telecom, finance, water and transportation.
Source: State Dept. of Defense
