A statewide test of the Maile Amber Alert will be conducted at 11:45 a.m. Monday and may interrupt local radio and television programming. Maile stands for “Minor Abducted in Life-threatening Emergency” and utilizes the Emergency Alert System to broadcast important
A statewide test of the Maile Amber Alert will be conducted at 11:45 a.m. Monday and may interrupt local radio and television programming.
Maile stands for “Minor Abducted in Life-threatening Emergency” and utilizes the Emergency Alert System to broadcast important details on specific abductions to the public.
During the test, the state Department of Transportation will utilize its electronic freeway message signs to alert drivers to turn on their radio.
The statewide test also coincides with the signing of a proclamation by Gov. Linda Lingle and Lt. Gov. James “Duke” Aiona declaring Jan. 14 as Maile Amber Alert Awareness Day.
“We hope this test and declaration serve to remind the public that they are an important partner in protecting Hawai‘i’s keiki,” Aiona said. “The Maile Amber Alert message encourages people to be aware of an abduction and gives them information they can use to help law enforcement.”
Maile Amber Alert Awareness Day also serves as the launch of the annual National Missing and Exploited Children’s Day poster contest open to fifth-grade students throughout Hawai‘i. Posters must reflect the “Bring Our Missing Children Home” theme, using acrylics, watercolor, pencil, charcoal, magic markers, spray paint and pastels.
All entries must be received by the Missing Child Center-Hawai‘i by March 3. The poster that wins first place will compete at the national level. This year’s national winner will receive a certificate of recognition and travel with his or her parents to Washington, D.C., to participate in a National Missing Children’s Day ceremony at the U.S. Department of Justice in May. The winning poster will be part of various displays, exhibits, publications and Web sites as determined by the Child Protection Division and Department of Justice.
For more information, visit www.missingchildcenterhawaii.com or www.ojjdp.ncjrs.org
