This qualitative case study was designed to assess the potential vulnerability of Honolulu Harbor to terrorist attack by examining an alternative approach to the current weak-link risk-assessment conceptual framework commonly used to predict attacks. The purpose of this study was to assess current maritime security efforts to determine how effective those efforts may be in preventing a terrorist attack on Honolulu Harbor. Previous research has addressed national and international maritime security policies and vulnerability issues. However, no research exists which assesses maritime security policies or vulnerabilities related to Honolulu Harbor. The views of maritime security managers, planners, and regulators from the corporate, state, and federal communities were framed within a more comprehensive event analysis model for strategic planning recently proposed by Bazerman and Watkins. This study triangulated multiple data collection methods, which included interviews, multimedia and document research. The analysis of the data utilized the standard practice of verification, analysis, coding, and the development of nodes and themes utilizing NVivo8 such that data are presented using graphical support of main points. Results of the study call attention to thematic issues related to vulnerability, funding, resource procurement, and differential participation and influence across stakeholders. The study addressed social change aspects through the review of the security of the people of the State of Hawaii. Security must be a priority issue that requires effective and coordinated corporate, state, and federal government intervention to preserve the peace and tranquility of the community as well as the strength of local and national economies.
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