National concern led
to security at stadium
A massive security effort at Wednesday's Hawaii Bowl was in response to a general threat of a terrorist attack on Christmas Day, not because of a specific threat to Aloha Stadium, police and stadium officials said yesterday.
State sheriffs with dogs and mirrors to detect explosives under cars roamed the parking lot, and parking in the row closest to the stadium was blocked off to the public. ESPN showed pictures of sharpshooters on the roof of the stadium.
Aloha Stadium Authority spokesman Patrick Leonard said officials even took air samples in the stadium to make sure there were no airborne contaminants.
Police and state officials began planning for the extra security after the nation's and state's terror alert levels were raised Sunday.
"Nationally, we had heard that something was going to happen in the United States on Christmas Day," Leonard said.
Because the Hawaii Bowl was the only nationally televised bowl game, officials decided to increase security to a level even greater than at last year's Pro Bowl.
"It (Aloha Stadium) was the safest place on earth," Leonard said.
Deputy Police Chief Boisse Correa said he could not talk about specific security measures such as police sharpshooters or the number of extra police officers, but confirmed there was heightened security.
"Some of the actions taken were for protection of the site, and some of the action was a training mission," Correa said.
He said the experience at the Hawaii Bowl will help them prepare for the Pro Bowl in February and for other events.
The state has promised that some of the extra costs of security will be paid for through federal Homeland Security and Department of Justice grants, Correa said.
Leonard said officials began planning for the extra security Monday and met through Christmas Eve to finalize the plans. He said the level of security for the Pro Bowl will depend on the terrorist threat level at that time.
Hawaii National Guard spokesman Maj. Chuck Anthony said soldiers patrolled the stadium yesterday at the request of civilian law enforcement. He said the National Guard was not called in to help with security at the University of Hawaii's other nationally televised games against Alabama and Boise State.
Anthony said some soldiers were called up on Monday after the state's terror alert was raised. The soldiers were in uniform but did not carry visible firearms.
"National Guard soldiers in uniform help to be a visual deterrent," Anthony said. "This type of thing is becoming more common in this post-9/11 world."