Hawaiʻi Guard wraps up statewide storm response

Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi — The Hawaiʻi National Guard has concluded a multi-month, statewide mission that began in mid-March in response to a series of powerful Kona Low storms and severe weather, transitioning from lifesaving operations to sustained recovery work that continued until May 22.

At the mission’s peak, as many as 500 Soldiers and Airmen were on state active duty across multiple islands. The initial activation brought about 90 personnel to the field, deploying high-water vehicle teams and embedding liaisons in county emergency operations centers. During the first storm, Guard members evacuated 24 civilians from floodwaters on Hawaiʻi Island, assisted with dam observation on Oʻahu and managed traffic control points on Maui.

A week later, a second, more powerful Kona Low storm pushed activated personnel to about 200. On Oʻahu, high-water vehicle teams conducted ground rescues for 91 people, while UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters airlifted 47 adults, children and two dogs to safety from the Waiʻanae area. The 93rd Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive Enhanced Response Force Package supported search-and-extraction operations on the North Shore in the first days after the storm.

“Our Soldiers and Airmen answered the call to service, putting community first in support of response and recovery efforts during these back-to-back-to-back storms,” said Maj. Gen. Stephen F. Logan, the adjutant general for the Hawaiʻi National Guard. “Their commitment to helping neighbors in need reflects their dedication to help families and communities begin recovery.”

As immediate flood threats subsided, the effort shifted to recovery. Guard members assisted Maui County with 68 damage assessments, including an aerial survey of Molokaʻi for Maui Mayor Richard Bissen. On Oʻahu, teams cleared debris and distributed potable water to communities on the North Shore.

Into early April, personnel prepared for a third storm while continuing recovery work. More than 4,400 sandbags were filled and distributed to protect communities, and response assets were staged statewide. “Across the state, we’ve called on our Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen to be ready to assist first responders and protect our communities,” said Brig. Gen. Tyson Tahara, acting director of the Hawaiʻi National Guard Joint Staff, during the April preparations. “We continued to maintain strong coordination with our county emergency management partners to provide disaster relief.”

In the final phase, the Guard supported Oʻahu residents affected by a boil-water notice in the Waialua area. A team of 130 personnel managed bulk potable water distribution points at Otake and Mill Camps until demobilization at the end of May. Support on Maui concluded in late April, with the Molokaʻi Armory provided to the Maui Emergency Management Agency to serve as a long-term community resiliency hub.

By the end of the activation, the Hawaiʻi National Guard had rescued or evacuated 138 civilians by air and ground, distributed more than 42,000 gallons of potable water to more than 3,200 residents and cleared 3,732 cubic yards of debris from 164 homes.