Many communities on the Mainland are worried about losing some of their military installations, but Hawai'i can look forward with some confidence to the Pentagon's release Friday of the list of bases it wants to close or realign.

Defense observers expect realignments to be emphasized in this round of BRAC, or base realignment and closure. A realignment typically entails shifting personnel and equipment, possibly to consolidate similar missions, rather than closing an entire installation.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld wants to transform the military to better face modern threats such as terrorism, and the Pentagon is expected to release a list of recommendations to the BRAC commission by the end of the week.

That could mean the Pentagon could recommend more military units for Hawai'i and even indicate that another Navy aircraft carrier group should be based in the Pacific.

Loren Thompson, a military analyst with the Lexington Institute in Arlington, Va., said Hawai'i is becoming the preferred destination for much of America's military because it's closer to the western Pacific and Indian Ocean.