Hawaii National Guard aids Tropical Cyclone Lala response

HONOLULU — The Hawaii National Guard has ended storm response operations on Kauai and Oahu after Tropical Cyclone Lala, while Soldiers and Airmen continue supporting recovery on Hawaii Island and Maui.

At the response’s peak, up to 250 personnel were activated to assist state and county emergency management agencies and deliver critical services to affected communities. “Our Soldiers and Airmen answered the call to service, putting community first in support of response and recovery efforts during Tropical Cyclone Lala,” said Maj. Gen. Stephen Logan, adjutant general of the Hawaii National Guard. “Their commitment to helping neighbors in need, from lifesaving rescues to damage assessments, reflect their dedication to help families begin to recover.”

Guard personnel worked alongside county emergency managers and first responders as conditions improved and communities shifted to recovery. Liaison officers were embedded with county Emergency Operations Centers, the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, and the Honolulu Police Department Joint Operations Center to align local requests with Guard capabilities.

As Lala moved through the islands, Guard teams conducted high-water rescues and evacuations, cleared debris, delivered donated supplies, assessed damage, and performed aerial reconnaissance. On Hawaii Island, high-wheeled vehicle teams assisted 16 residents and rescued two emergency medical paramedics stranded by floodwaters.

Recovery operations remain active in the remote Kau District, where Soldiers and Airmen from the 93rd Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Enhanced Response Force Package, or 93rd CERFP, are partnering with the Hawaii Fire Department for door-to-door safety and wellness checks. “What we saw when we first came out to site was all the landslides from the top of the cemetery and down to the main road. So we knew that already that there are going to be a lot of uneven spaces, a lot of rubble piles,” said Senior Master Sgt. Hyurn Chu, 154th Force Support Squadron, a member of the 93rd CERFP.

As of Aug. 21, teams had visited more than 320 homes to check on residents and identify community needs.

On Maui, the Guard has integrated personnel into eight joint damage assessment teams. Those teams have completed 11 comprehensive assessments in storm-affected areas to inform local recovery planning and resource coordination. Senior state and county leaders also conducted an aerial assessment to review widespread storm impacts. The flight included the Hawaii governor, Hawaii County mayor and Logan.

While response operations have concluded on Kauai and Oahu, Guard personnel remain ready to assist Hawaii and Maui counties as recovery continues. Coordination is ongoing with county emergency management agencies and the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency for any additional requests.

The Guard is also monitoring Tropical Storm Moke and has begun pre-positioning assets in anticipation of potential impacts. “We are preparing for Tropical Storm Moke by proactively repositioning personnel and equipment based on the latest forecast. This deliberate staging of our capabilities ensures we can rapidly respond to the hardest-hit areas the moment emergency requests for assistance are received from state and county managers,” said Brig. Gen. Damon Hogsten, director of the Joint Staff, Hawaii National Guard.

Experience from earlier responses, including the Kona Low Storms in March, is informing the current posture. “By continuously applying lessons learned from previous disasters, we have refined our response tactics. A key example is the close integration of our high-wheeled vehicle teams with local police and fire departments, ensuring life-saving assets are deployed precisely where they are needed most,” Hogsten said.

Leaders framed the continuing effort as part of the Guard’s dual mission to serve Hawaii residents during crises while maintaining readiness as a component of national defense.