Līhu‘e courthouse evacuated following bomb threat

State courthouses throughout Hawai‘i and the nation were emptied and searched for explosives Thursday morning, one day after a hoax bomb threat prompted the evacuation of state capitol buildings throughout the United States.

The emailed threat appears to have originated from the same source behind Wednesday’s state capitol evacuations. The Hawai‘i courthouses targeted today included the Pu‘uhonua Kaulike courthouse in Līhu‘e, Ronald T.Y. Moon building in Kapolei, O‘ahu, and Kauikeaouli Hale in Honolulu.

“We are aware of the threat made to the Hawaii state judiciary and others,” said the U.S. District Court of Hawai‘i in an online statement. “We are in consultation with our law enforcement partners. With the information we have, we will continue to stay vigilant, and the court remains open.”

Thursday’s bomb threat had “very little impact” on the daily operations of the Pu‘uhonua Kaulike courthouse, according to Judiciary Communications and Community Relations Director Jan Kagehiro.

Closure of the building, she said, “lasted maybe 30 minutes before they could get back to work as usual.”

At least 24 state capitols throughout the country were allegedly threatened Jan. 3, according to multiple news outlets, including Hawai‘i News Now. Courthouses in Mississippi, Arkansas, Hawai‘i, Maine, Montana and New Hampshire were among those to receive threats Thursday, according to the Associated Press.

“While no doubt concerning, after consulting with the state Department of Law Enforcement, we are proceeding with its recommendation to remain open to the public while conducting diligent screening of all packages and people entering our facilities,” said Rodney Maile, the Hawai‘i State Judiciary’s Administrative Director of the Courts. “The Sheriffs are conducting sweeps of the interiors and exteriors of our buildings to confirm there is no threat.”