Officials blamed supply chain and technical issues.
Metal detectors were to be installed into the Hawaii Capitol鈥檚 security system next week, but the state announced Friday that the enhanced screening system has been tentatively delayed until Aug. 7.
State officials blamed “supply chain, equipment calibration and additional installation requirement issues” for the delay, according to a press release on Friday.
Hawaii will be the 38th state to incorporate metal detection into its security measures. The metal detectors will be posted at three entrances, including two at the street-level elevators and one at the basement level. That was initially supposed to happen Monday.
Arekat Pacific Security Inc. was awarded the contract to administer the metal detectors. The Honolulu-based company referred questions to the Department of Accounting and General Services, which declined further comment about the delay.
Previous legislative efforts to install metal detectors at the Capitol have failed.
Hawaii鈥檚 State Capitol was built in 1965 in a way that reflects the islands鈥 cultural values of having an open society that welcomes everyone.
Currently, the Capitol has security services that monitor the entry points by asking visitors for identification and their reason for entering the building.
Sen. Chris Lee has long advocated for such security measures at the Capitol, saying they’re needed because of growing concerns about violence.
鈥淚n this day and age, it鈥檚 only a matter of time that there could be an incident that will lead to injury or death,鈥 Lee said.
He added that the U.S. Supreme Court decision that expanded the right to carry firearms outside the home adds to the worries. He said nobody has been accused of bringing firearms into the Capitol but some legislators have received threats.
Both Lee and House Speaker Scott Saiki said the measure was a response to some lawmakers, workers, staff and visitors saying they felt unsafe on the Capitol premises.
鈥淲e’re just conforming,鈥 Saiki said.
DAGS spokesman Anthony Benabese said that the concept of adding another layer of security at the Capitol is not new. It has been in the works for years with the goal of keeping security standards up to par with other capitols around the country.
While the Capitol will have enhanced security screenings, Saiki emphasized that the building will still be as welcoming to the public.
Lee says beefed-up security should be embraced by the public.
鈥淚t creates a safer space where people can show up knowing that they’re not going to be intimidated by other folks showing up, armed and angry about whatever the issue might be and threaten others,鈥 Lee said. 鈥淲hich I think has clearly happened here and certainly is happening all over the rest of the country right now.鈥
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About the Author
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Victoria Budiono was a reporting intern for Civil Beat. She was born and raised in Jakarta, Indonesia and is a recent University of Hawaii Manoa graduate with a dual bachelor’s degree in journalism and psychology. You can reach her by email at vbudiono@civilbeat.org.