January 2026

Formed in 1999, the committee of senior level government, military and business leaders meets regularly to share information on terrorism preparedness. The committee has been instrumental in the development of critical infrastructure protection plans, threat protection conditions and measures, and...

Tsunami Program. Several important projects were completed in 2002. Local tsunami modeling for development of forecasting tools and installation of coastal recorders for damaging wave detection were completed this year. A tsunami safety brochure was also published for distribution to...

Established in 2000, the purpose of this committee was to develop a State Lava Flow Mitigation Plan to reduce the risk of lava flows affecting life and property. State Civil Defense published this plan in November 2002. - 2003 Annual...

The forum provides guidance for the State Hazard Mitigation Program. The program undertakes projects and activities to help increase disaster resistance via construction and retrofit projects and community awareness initiatives. The forum is also actively involved in developing risk assessment...

State Civil Defense provides the chair, hosts and coordinates the activities of the Pacific Caucus of Emergency Managers. In addition to Hawaii, members include Guam, American Samoa, Republic of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the...

Made up of representatives from the National Weather Service, University of Hawaii structural engineering, and civil defense, the Board held its first meeting in March 1994. The Hurricane Advisory Board has been assembled to take an indepth look at mitigation...

Earthquake Hazard Preparedness Committee formed. State Civil Defense took the initiative to sponsor a special committee for Hawaii earthquake preparedness. Drawn from public, private and academic sectors, the committee brings together geotechnical, earthquake engineering and design experts, as well as...

The State Civil Defense took the lead in the initial development of the Pacific Disaster Center on Maui. The state-of-the-art facility will provide emergency managers in the Pacific region the most advanced information products on pending disasters. - 1995 Annual...

FY 2025 Hawai‘i Department of Defense Incentive Service Awards winners attend Governor’s Award Ceremony Shane Harrell Ronald Santos Ramon Ramiro The Hawai‘i Department of Defense Incentive Service Awards winners attended the Governor’s Award Ceremony at the Hawai‘i State Capitol Auditorium...

A brand new initiative to support community preparedness through partnerships and resources was developed by SCD and the Pacific Disaster Center in October 2012. The Hawaii Hazard Awareness and Resiliency Program was designed to: increase hazard awareness; enhance understanding of...

Exercise Makani Pahili History Makani Pāhili, meaning “strong winds” in Hawaiian, is the State of Hawaiʻi Department of Defense’s annual hurricane exercise designed to test and strengthen coordinated response capabilities before the start of the hurricane season (June - November)....

HI-EMA responded to the COVID-19 pandemic, and became fully operational in April 2020. HI-EMA helped secure and provide personal protective equipment (PPE), created messaging to the public on safety guidelines, and provided assistance to state, federal, and county partners on...