Airlift

The Hawaii National Guard is managing overlapping recovery operations after a string of storms battered the islands since August, the fourth being Hurricane Nolo, which struck Sept. 26-27. During Nolo, high-water vehicle teams carried out five rescue missions and assisted 19 civilians. The Guard is drawing on roughly 5,500 personnel in a rotational structure to support county and state partners across multiple islands simultaneously.

On Hawaii Island, Task Force Hawaii continues cleanup after Hurricane Lala dumped an estimated 1.3 trillion gallons of water in mid-August, including 421 wellness checks in remote areas and sensitive debris removal and recovery work at a flood- and landslide-damaged cemetery. A partnership with Pacific Air Forces, dubbed Operation Trek 808, airlifted electrical restoration equipment from California. On Kauai, Task Force Kauai remains active following Hurricane Lowell's early September landfall, having helped reopen Lihue Airport, conducted aerial damage assessments, and distributed food and water with the Hawaii Foodbank amid supply shortages.