Governor’s emergency proclamation authorizes second year of Operation Hoʻopauahi wildfire assistance

Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green — in preparation for wildfire season — signed an emergency proclamation authorizing Hawaiʻi Department of Defense Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Stephen Logan to activate Hawai’i National Guard resources — when needed — to provide assistance to state and county first responders in the event wildfires ignite.

Logan will use that authorization to initiate the second year of Operation Hoʻopauahi, which means “To Extinguish Fire,” and keep aircrews plus other National Guard resources ready to provide aerial firefighting capabilities and more to augment state and county first responders when requested.

“For the second year, we are taking steps to ensure Hawaiʻi is prepared and the valuable time needed for response is accelerated,” said Green in announcing the emergency proclamation. “This proclamation will provide funding for full flight operations, refueling and maintenance support during the wildfire season …”

Hawaiʻi National Guard also can leverage units performing annual training this month to quickly and effectively respond.

Other Hawaiʻi National Guard resources such as evacuation teams, traffic control support and security missions also can be activated quickly under the proclamation, which covers the period between June 1 and Nov. 30.

“Operation Hoʻopauahi exemplifies the Hawaiʻi National Guard anticipating a need and then being there to support it,” said Logan in the announcement. “The Guard is ‘Always Ready, Always There.’”

Three helicopters will be postured to fly and immediately support any county in the state, increasing the capacity to contain and extinguish a fire in its early stages.

Hawaiʻi National Guard CH-47F Chinook and HH-60 Blackhawk helicopters will be located on Oʻahu and an additional Blackhawk will be staged in Hilo on the Big Island.

Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency and Hawaiʻi National Guard are in constant communication with county emergency management and civil defense agencies. They stand read to support when and if needed.

“This initiative allows [Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency] to quickly support county wildfire operations, with posturing our [Hawaiʻi National Guard] resources,” said Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency Administrator James Barros in the announcement. “Operation Hoʻopauahi is an example of how the state and our county partners are taking this proactive stance as we face another dangerous wildfire season.”

Operation Hoʻopauahi 2025 proved the extraordinary value of this proactive posture, with Guard aircrews logging 105 flight hours and dropping 283,908 gallons of water on four major fires while maintaining a quick response time.