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Linda Lingle, Governor of Hawaii was Linda Lingle
Command Notes
we’ve recently passed the six-month anniversary of the Sept. 11th terrorist attacks – more than six months of protecting Hawaii’s airports, airspace and critical infrastructure.
Proactive protection
I want to say thank you to the soldiers and airmen of the Hawaii National Guard and the men and women of State Civil Defense who have been working hard to protect Hawaii since Sept.11th. I know I’ve said that before in previous columns, but I cannot say it enough. Just in the last several months, we’ve completed vulnerability assessments of critical civilian facilities in Hawaii to ensure that we can protect those assets. We also were on hand at Aloha Stadium during the Pro Bowl game, to assist authorities with security. On Mar. 12th, Tom Ridge, the nation’s Homeland Security Director, unveiled a new color-coded security implementation plan for civilian first responders, law enforcement and government officials. That color-coded matrix, now used nationally, had its genesis here in Hawaii, at State Civil Defense. So we have been assisting with security issues in some rather profound ways as well as some on a smaller scale – but all contributions are important. 2001 September 11th Terrorist Attacks – State of Hawaiʻi Department of Defense
– 2002 January – March Pūpūkahi pp. 2
As a result of the terrorist attack, the Federal Aviation Administration shut down the nation’s commercial aviation system for three days. Aircraft were received at the airport and grounded for three days while the federal government checked for threats and organized to respond to further attacks.
When flights resumed, Air National Guard aircraft were on patrol and the Coast Guard was checking the waters adjacent to Honolulu International Airport.
By the following month, Japan Airlines had cut 32 percent of its flights; Hawaiian Airlines cut 35 of 158 daily interisland flights and 22 of 120 weekly trans-Pacific flights. Aloha Airlines cut a similar number of interisland flights. All Nippon Airways ended its Honolulu flights and Northwest Airlines closed its Honolulu pilot base. The year 2002 started out with a continued drop in passengers, particularly from Japan but some airlines were trying new initiatives.
On November 23, 2001, President Bush signed the Airport Safety and Security Act which provided assistance to airlines, established the Transportation Security Administration and allowed Hawaiian and Aloha Airlines a temporary anti-trust exemption to coordinate operations, schedules and security requirements.
The terrorist attacks had a major financial impact on the aviation industry. Prior to September 11, 2001, the airline industry was already in a financial downturn due to over expansion, decreased business travel and higher labor costs. The losses related to September 11 accelerated an already deteriorating financial condition for the airlines.
To assist the airlines economically, the State waived all landing fees at HNL and other State airports for six and a half months ending April 1, 2002.
More News from Calabasas
- Revisiting Comments 25 Years After 9/11/01 - Part 47 “Appealing to reason cannot serve as an excuse for not repudiating the irrational act that is terrorism, but it can serve as a warning ..."Fernando Cardoso, President of Brazil
- Revisiting Comments 25 Years After 9/11/01 - Part 46 President Macapagal-Arroyo spoke to students at Georgetown University on November 19, 2001 where she was a student in the 1960s.
