“Everybody says it, and what everybody says must be true.” ~ James Fenimore Cooper

1. HAWAII IN-BOUND MISSILE ALERT
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE (SOP) - HUMAN ERROR
Approximately 5 minutes into the launch sequence, the U.S.
Pacifc Command will notify the Hawaii State Warning Point
(SWP) that a missile is en route from North Korea. The SWP
is stafed on a 24-hour, 7 day-a-week basis by skilled
emergency management professionals. Upon receipt of the
notifcation, the SWP will activate the ‘Attack-Warning’
signal on all outdoor sirens statewide (wailing sound) and
transmit warning advisory on radio, television and cellular
telephones within 2 minutes. [Emphasis Supplied]
Source: Hawaii Department of Defense, Emergency Management Agency
Ballistic Missile Preparedness October 13, 2017, accessed January 15, 2018
https://dod.hawaii.gov/hiema/fles/2017/08/HI-EMA-BMD-Question-and-Answer-SEP-
2017.pdf
_______________________
The following is a synopsis of what occurred:
Approx. 8:05 a.m. – A routine internal test during a shift change was
initiated. This was a test that involved the Emergency Alert System, the
Wireless Emergency Alert, but no warning sirens.
8:07 a.m. – A warning test was triggered statewide by the State Warning
Point, HI-EMA.
8:10 a.m. – State Adjutant Maj. Gen. Joe Logan, validated with the U.S.
Pacifc Command that there was no missile launch.
[Extract] [[Emphasis Supplied]
Source: Hawaii Department of Defense, Emergency Management Agency Hawaii
Emergency Management Agency Statement On Missile Launch False Alarm, January 13,
2018, accessed January 15, 2018 https://dod.hawaii.gov/hiema/fles/2018/01/20180113-
NR-HI-EMA-statement-on-missile-launch-false-alarm.pdf

2. Hawaii Governor Attributes False Missile Warning to Employee
Pushing ‘Wrong Button’
By Cindy Von Quednow and CNN Wire
January 13, 2018, accessed January 15, 2018
Hawaii Gov. David Ige told CNN that human error caused the alert to
go out.
“It was a mistake made during a standard procedure at the change
over of a shift, and an employee pushed the wrong button,” he said.
_____________________
Governor, FCC vow probe into false alarm
that sent Hawaii scrambling for cover
By Lora Kolodny CNBC
Published 13 Jan 2018 Updated 14 Jan 2018
Accessed January 15, 2018
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/13/hawaii-governor-fcc-vow-probe-into-false-missile-alarm.html
● FCC Chairman Ajit Pai promised a "full investigation" into a
false emergency alert that warned Hawaiians of a non-existent
missile attack on Saturday.
● Hawaii Governor David Ige said that local investigations are
underway now.
● Hawaiian ofcials and NORAD attributed the false alert to
human error, not hackers.