Hawai‘i Army Guard flies helicopters to support Hawaii Life Flight

Governor Josh Green, M.D. authorized the emergency use of the Hawai‘i Army Guard [HIARNG] helicopters — and the select crews — to temporarily support Hawaii Life Flight after one of its aircraft and crew went missing Thursday in the ʻAlenuihāhā Channel between Maui and the Big Island.

Gov. Green authorized the Army Guard’s HH60 MEDEVAC support through 10 a.m. today but is reassessing the need, based on Hawaii Life Flight/Global Medical Response ability to meet all critical care air transportation requirements.

“The Hawai‘i Army National Guard is filling a vital role for the community,” said Gov. Green. “The aero-medical evacuation mission saves lives, and we will continue to work with the Guard and other organizations to ensure everything is done to provide necessary services for our state.”

Two HIARNG medical evacuation crews, along with Hawaii Life Flight/Global Medical Response civilian flight nurses were on each HH-60 Blackhawk mission. The crews flew both aero-medical evacuations and patient air transports since Monday.

On Monday they flew one flight — Moloka‘i to Maui — logging 2.8 flight hours. On Tuesday, they flew two flights — Kaua‘i to O‘ahu — logging 5.1 flight hours. On Wednesday, they flew one flight — Hawai‘i Island to Maui — logging 3.9 flight hours.

The HIARNG presence reinforces the additional medical transport aviation capabilities being flown to Hawaii. The HIARNG aviation assets ensures patients requiring higher level of care to be safely transported to locations that can provide that appropriate level of care.