Hawaii is a spot for sun, surf _ and spies

[AsahinaKimi]

HONOLULU (AP) -- Clandestine agents. Foreign spies. Intelligence. Hawaii is better known for sunbathing on the beach or surfing than high-stakes sleuthing.

But the case of a 59-year-old civilian defense contractor accused of giving military secrets to his much younger Chinese girlfriend is a reminder that the state is a prime target for espionage. A high concentration of important military commands means there's a great deal of information on the islands that potential adversaries want to know.

Case in point: Most of the FBI's resources in Hawaii are concentrated on counterintelligence -- not drug trafficking or terrorism.

"One of the FBI's priorities in Hawaii is keeping America's secrets safe from agents of foreign powers," said Tom Simon, a special agent in Honolulu. "With the amount of military and classified material in Hawaii, it remains a top priority for the FBI."

It helps that the state, population 1.4 million, isn't a hotbed of violent crime. That allows agents to focus much of their efforts on thwarting spooks.

more..http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20130404p2g00m0dm020000c.html

[Downwinder]

1. Off topic, but what has happened on the Kollin Elderts killing?

[ellisonz]

2. Going to trial here soon.

http://www.kitv.com/news/hawaii/Jury-selection-begins-for-agent-s-murder-trial/-/8905354/19761884/-/joqmns/-/index.html

[Downwinder]

4. July 1. I'll watch for it. Thanks.

[ellisonz]

3. McGarret and Danno will get'em. n/t

[oneshooter]

5. Both the Japanese and the Germans had spy networks in the Pearl Harbor

area before the attack. In fact the Japanese hired a German spy to watch the ship movements at Pearl.