Halloween on Kadena

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Lynette M. Rolen
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  Kadena will be hosting trick-or-treaters from 6-8 p.m. Oct. 31.

Keep safety in mind as trick-or-treaters will be enjoying their Halloween festivities.

The Kadena Halloween Committee needs volunteers to help patrol housing areas on base to ensure that children are safe as they seek their holiday treats. The committee is also taking candy donations through Oct. 30 for trick-or-treaters. Halloween candy screening will take place on Oct. 31 from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Air Mobility Command terminal.

Security Forces will have an increased presence throughout the base in different locations in order to assist with any issues. 

"Team Kadena can ensure a safe Halloween season by employing a few, simple safety protocols," said Lt. Col. Sarah Babbitt, 18th Security Forces Squadron commander.  "Kids should be accompanied by their parents or another adult while trick-or-treating.  It's important to keep in mind that our Halloween hours take place after dark and Kadena Air Base is a large installation with many different housing areas that look very similar--especially at night. Encourage your children to carry a flashlight or incorporate some reflective material into their costume so they can be more easily seen."

Those responsible for the supervision of children should consider that kids will be excited about Halloween and might not be aware of their surroundings.

"Although we'll have Security Forces command posts throughout all of our Kadena housing areas, there's always the potential for a child to get lost," Babbitt commented. "Be sure to input our Security Forces Base Defense Operations Center 24/7 telephone number into your cellular phone:  098-961-2475, because you never know when you may need emergency assistance." 

Certain policies will be in effect for the festivities to encourage a safe Halloween.

"The speed limit on Kadena around all housing areas during this time will be 20 kph," said Tech. Sgt. Sabrina Lukas, 18th Security Forces Squadron assistant flight chief. "We would like to make sure everyone remains safe for Halloween this year by ensuring they are abiding by the speed limit on that night. We also ask that children go trick or treating with a responsible adult to ensure everyone makes it back safely at the end of the night."

This year, Japanese employees who work on Kadena Air Base and their families will be allowed to participate in Halloween festivities. Local community visitors will also be allowed on base so long as they are escorted by authorized sponsors. Local organizations will be bussed onto Kadena by invitation only and escorted by the proper authorities. Those who are serving as escorts should ensure their guests are shown where to go on base and help keep them safe.

Sponsors must stay with their guests, which is limited to five for Status of Forces Agreement-sponsored ID cardholders, throughout their guests' time on Kadena. Photo ID is required for guests over 16 years of age. Sponsors and their guests may only enter Kadena through Gate 1 between 5:30 and 7 p.m. and they must leave Kadena by 9 p.m. Guests may drive their vehicle onto Kadena with the supervision of their escort, and may only bring one car.

Japanese employees may enter Kadena through Gate 1 from 5-7:30 p.m. on Halloween. They are permitted to sponsor their spouse and up to four children under the age of 16. Japanese employees are responsible for the supervision of their visitors. Proper authorization must be made in advance for their visitors.

Those who do not wish to participate in Halloween festivities are asked to turn off their outside lights and close their blinds so that trick-or-treaters will pass by your home.

Please remember to treat our host neighbors with respect and ensure that they enjoy the festivities as much as we do.

"We want everyone to enjoy this American tradition and holiday in the safest manner possible," said Lukas. "We also want everyone to remember we are ambassadors and to represent ourselves accordingly."