Hawai'i National Guard’s Operation Ho?opauahi to Improve Emergency Response Time

HONOLULU - Governor Josh Green, M.D., Commander in Chief of the Hawai‘i National Guard, today signed an emergency proclamation that authorizes the Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Stephen F. Logan, to activate the National Guard. Logan will use the authorization to commence Operation Ho?opauahi (to extinguish fire) to keep an aircrew ready to provide aerial firefighting capabilities to augment county and state level first responder elements.

“Our goal is simple - stop wildfires before they become disasters. By launching Operation Ho?opauahi, we’re giving our counties an immediate tool to respond to fires while they’re still small. This proactive step will help save lives, protect property and strengthen our state’s overall emergency response,” said Governor Green. “I’m grateful to Maj. Gen. Logan and the entire Hawai‘i National Guard for their swift action and steadfast commitment to protecting our communities.”

“This authorization and Operation Ho?opauahi also will allow us to quickly and effectively activate other Hawai?i National Guard resources such as evacuation teams, traffic control and security missions,” said Logan. “This is an opportunity where the Guard can help to enable a safe, secure and thriving state.”

Operation Ho?opauahi will initially keep a Hawai?i Army National Guard CH-47F Chinook helicopter crew postured to fly and immediately support any county in the state, which increases capacity to contain and extinguish a fire in its early stage.

The Hawai?i Emergency Management Agency and the Hawai?i National Guard are consistently in communication with county emergency managers and stand ready to support when and if needed.

The executed Emergency Proclamation can be found here.