HONOLULU – The Hawaii National Guard remains actively positioned across the state, balancing recovery operations from Tropical Cyclone Lala with urgent preparation efforts for Hurricane Lowell, the third tropical system to threaten the Hawaiian Islands within a month.
As of Sept. 7, 194 Hawaii National Guard personnel are on state active duty to support statewide response and recovery operations. By working closely with county emergency management agencies and the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, Hawaii National Guard personnel are ensuring communities receive support while proactively positioning resources for the incoming storm.
The Guard is focusing on Kauai County, where Hurricane Lowell’s forecasted impacts were expected to begin Sept. 7.
“We are working very closely with the Kauai Emergency Management Agency and Mayor Kawakami’s office. They are really good partners, we have a good, rich history, and we are postured accordingly,” said Maj. Gen. Stephen Logan, the adjutant general of the Hawaii National Guard.
To manage the dual demands of recovery and preparedness, the Hawaii National Guard has strategically distributed its personnel and specialized equipment across the islands.
Task Force Hawaii is actively assisting Hawaii County with personnel, including liaison officers in the local emergency operations center, debris-clearance teams and cemetery support. As of Sept. 4, the task force has removed more than 72,000 pounds of storm debris and conducted 421 safety and wellness checks for residents.
Meanwhile, Task Force Maui has deployed personnel to assist Maui County, including liaison officers in the emergency operations center and high-wheeled vehicle teams. They already have conducted 80 damage assessments and cleared 2,295 feet of roadway to restore access for local communities after Tropical Cyclone Lala.
On Oahu, Hawaii National Guard personnel are assigned to the Joint Staff, aviation crews and liaison roles within the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to coordinate state-level logistics and synchronize interisland assets. Additionally, high-wheeled vehicle teams are being positioned in preparation for the incoming weather.
Task Force Kauai is staging with 47 personnel ready to support emergency operations. The Hawaii National Guard has shipped over six vehicles for high-wheeled vehicle team rescues, along with one wrecker and one water buffalo. To further bolster Kauai’s defenses, additional personnel were deployed to the island to assist with staging and localized response, ensuring rapid response times when the storm hits.
The prolonged operations highlight the resilience of the Hawaii National Guard’s rotational force structure. Personnel are continuously transitioned onto and off State Active Duty orders to sustain long-term operations without compromising readiness. The entire response remains staffed by volunteers; however, the Hawaii National Guard has a pool of about 5,500 personnel available for mobilization.
“As recovery efforts continue as a result of Hurricane Lala, another severe weather event challenges our state with Hurricane Lowell. Hurricane season is dynamic; we must remain agile and responsive,” said Brig. Gen. Ronald (Damon) Hogsten, director of Joint Staff, Hawaii National Guard.
The Hawaii National Guard also maintains close coordination with active component military partners in Hawaii and the National Guard Bureau. All 53 other states and territories, alongside local active-component forces, have pledged their support and stand ready to assist the state of Hawaii if additional resources are required.