State Capitol searched and reopened following threat via email

The Hawaiʻi Department of Law Enforcement confirmed a bomb threat was emailed to certain members of the Senate relating to explosives allegedly being placed at the Hawai’i State Capitol Building.

The Sheriffs Division was contacted at about 6:40 a.m. HST, Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024 regarding the incident. The Hawai’i State Capitol was evacuated and the building was searched by deputies along with its Special Operations explosive detection K-9 units.

No explosives device or material was found.  The Capitol was reopened at approximately 9:30 a.m. upon the completion of the search.

Similar threats have been sent to multiple State Capitol buildings across the country, according to a department news release.

The matter has been referred to the Department of Law Enforcement’s Criminal Investigation Division and its Office of Homeland Security.  DLE also made notification to its federal partners.