OAHU, Hawaiʻi – The Hawaiʻi National Guard concluded a multi-month, statewide response at the end of May after supporting communities affected by a series of powerful Kona Low storms and severe weather events in March and April.

The complex, multi-island mission, which at its peak included as many as 500 Soldiers and Airmen on state active duty, transitioned from lifesaving rescues to sustained recovery operations that continued until May 22.

The response began in mid-March with the first of three storm systems. The  Hawaiʻi National Guard initially activated about 90 personnel, 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, the mission escalated with the arrival of a second, more powerful Kona Low storm, increasing the number of activated personnel to about 200. This phase was defined by critical rescue operations on Oʻahu, where high-water vehicle teams conducted ground rescues for 91 people, and UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters airlifted 47 adults, children and two dogs to safety from the Waiʻanae area. The Guard’s 93rd Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive Enhanced Response Force Package assisted with search-and-extraction operations on Oʻahu’s 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 the immediate flood threats from the March storms subsided, the mission transitioned to recovery. Guard members assisted Maui County with 68 damage assessments, including an aerial survey of Molokaʻi for Maui Mayor Richard Bissen.

On Oʻahu, the focus shifted to debris removal and essential services. Guard teams cleared debris and distributed potable water to communities on the North Shore.

The operational tempo remained high into early April as Guard members 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.”

The final phase of the mission involved continued support for 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, a mission that continued until demobilization at the end of May.

Meanwhile, 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 conclusion 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.