Honolulu Marathon officials said they will look more closely at security measures to prevent explosions in the wake of Monday’s deadly blasts at the Boston Marathon.
Until Monday the focus of security for marathons has been on keeping wrong-way drivers off the course, said Jim Barahal, president of the Honolulu Marathon. But the fatal bomb blasts in Boston likely changed the equation.
Securing roads will remain a concern, he said, "but I think measures to detect and prevent explosives, those are the kinds of (things) that will be discussed and, I’m sure, considered as we move forward."
As more information is obtained, officials will meet to determine what can be done to ensure the safety of the event, Barahal said. "Fortunately, we have a lot of time, eight months, until the next one."
The 41st Honolulu Marathon will be held Dec. 8. Last year’s race had 24,413 finishers, making it one of the largest in the world.
Spokesman Pat Bigold said the event employed 430 police officers last year, more than twice as many as any other local event.
But Barahal, a physician, said that because the 26.2-mile Honolulu Marathon is run in the open, "I don’t think it is possible to make it 100 percent safe. If somebody has a mind to do people harm … I mean, we do the best we can. I’m sure many other measures will be discussed."
Mayor Kirk Caldwell, meanwhile, called Honolulu "the safest big city in America."
Speaking at a news conference, Caldwell said, "I like to believe … that these bad things will never happen here. But we need to be prepared. Always plan for the worst and hope for the best."
He said that the cities’ first responders work well with federal and state security personnel, and have been better equipped since the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Waikiki in November 2011.
Honolulu Deputy Police Chief Dave Kajihiro echoed the mayor’s sentiments. "HPD works closely with other law enforcement agencies and is immediately notified whenever there is an incident such as the explosions in Boston."
Both Kajihiro and FBI Special Agent Tom Simon in Honolulu said Monday that there was no credible threat to Hawaii. But Kajihiro said the force will now be particularly vigilant.
"As a precaution, patrol officers will be making more frequent checks of certain facilities and locations," he said in a written statement.
The state Department of Public Safety said in a statement that its officials will work with county and federal law enforcement officers to determine what additional security measures are needed.
"The public can be assured that, based upon (Monday’s) events, large venues or activities will be scrutinized thoroughly," the statement said.
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Star-Advertiser reporters Marcel Honoré, Gordon Y.K. Pang and Mary Vorsino contributed to this report.
