The Lingle administration is talking with county mayors about cargo alternatives in the wake of the Aloha Airlines cargo unit shutdown and is working with carriers and shippers to pass along information about what resources might be available.

Gov. Linda Lingle told reporters yesterday that she does not plan to declare a state of emergency because other carriers will likely fill the market void. A state of emergency would allow the governor to call on the Hawai'i National Guard to help with the situation.

The governor, however, cited the Aloha example as a reason she opposes a bill restricting her emergency powers. She has until tomorrow to veto the bill, which would require her to make a finding of tangible and measurable harm before declaring emergencies in the absence of natural or man-made disasters or enemy or terrorist attacks.

At the state Capitol, lawmakers were concerned about the Aloha cargo shutdown but said it was too late in the legislative session for a response. The session adjourns tomorrow.

But even if it were earlier in the session, lawmakers said, it would have been difficult for them to intervene, given the financial challenges the interisland carrier was facing.

State Sen. J. Kalani English, D-6th (E. Maui, Moloka'i, Lana'i), chairman of the Senate Transportation and International Affairs Committee, said it was the governor's prerogative to declare an emergency.

"I think we're in a very grave situation," English said. "This has dire consequences for all of the Neighbor Islands and for our mail service. People should really expect some delay in the delivery of mail and also some of the foodstuffs."

English predicted other companies would emerge to bid for Aloha's cargo operations, and he urged the bankruptcy court to act quickly.

State Rep. Josh Green, D-6th (N. Kona, Keauhou, Kailua-Kona), chairman of the House Health Committee, asked Lingle in a letter yesterday to declare an emergency. "It's an important time for the governor to step in and protect our shipping and to protect our economy," he said.

State Rep. Joseph Souki, D-8th (Wailuku, Waihe'e, Waiehu), chairman of the House Transportation Committee, said lawmakers would encourage Hawaiian Airlines and Hawaii Superferry to help with cargo in Aloha's place.

"Other than that, there's not much that we can do, because you're talking about a huge cost if we were to try to financially bail out (Aloha's) cargo section," he said. "And I don't think, at this point, we're capable of doing that or want to do that."

Souki noted that lawmakers have passed a bill that would allow for regulation of the local airline industry if the state were to receive an exemption from the federal government.

"It's so important that we maintain cargo and the ability to travel between the islands," he said. "We don't have highways. We don't have roads. We need to catch a plane. We need to catch a boat."