Department of Defense

In June, the Guard and State Civil Defense assisted Maui county officials in extinguishing a fire which destroyed 12,500 acres on Molokai.

– 1991 Annual Report pp. 1

Brigade soldiers were activated in July to assist the Hawaii and Maui county governments during the solar eclipse and in August to help fight the Molokai fire.

– 1991 Annual Report pp. 9

DOD helps fight Molokai Fire

Also a total solar eclipse

By Michelle Al-Chang

A brush fire which burned out of control and a total solar eclipse has kept Department of Defense employees busy since late June.

The Hawaii National Guard (HING) assisted Maui County firefighters in extinguishing the fire which destroyed 12,500 acres on Molokai, June 21-26. Activated on Monday afternoon, the Hawaii Army National Guard’s (HIARNG) UH-1H Huey helicopter crews rushed to airlift firefighters and water buckets to the stricken area. The Hawaii Air National Guard (HIANG) C-130 Hercules cargo plane transported aircraft fuel and water buckets from Oahu, June 24. Two Hueys flew 200 sorties, dousing 40,000 gallons of water on the raging blaze. More than 1,800 gallons of JP 4 aircraft fuel were used by the Hueys, and 2,200 by civilian contractors hired by the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Six sorties were flown by the C-130, and a total of 4,880 gallons of JP-4 aircraft fuel were drawn from the cargo plane. The fuel was loaded onto the plane in 500-gallon tanks at Hickam and Wheeler Air Force Bases.

Twenty-three Guard members were activated to help with the massive firefighting effort. Several soldiers of Kaunakakai’s Scout Platoon, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 299th Infantry, volunteered to fight the blaze Sunday evening and were placed on state active duty with other Guard members Monday. Ten aircrew and support personnel from the 1st Battalion, 193rd Aviation, were activated to operate and service the Hueys and C-130. Two members of the Headquarters, State Area Command, acted as liaisons and worked closely with local Civil Defense officials.

Two photographers from the 117th Public Affairs Detachment recorded the Guard’s involvement in the operation, as well as the demise of the Mid-Nite Inn, which burnt down m an unrelated fire.

In addition to personnel, aircraft and fuel tanks, the Hawaii Guard also commit ted vehicles, radios, telephones and camouflage nets to assist with the County’s overall firefighting effort.

Two weeks later, State Civil Defense officials and Hawaii National Guard members assisted Big Island and Maui officials in ensuring the safety of the thousands of residents and visitors viewing the total solar eclipse, July 11.

On Hawaii, three vehicular patrols and a command cell were located with police and fire departments at the Waikoloa Post Office; six vehicular patrols were stationed at the South Kohala fire station. Medical support consisted of a standby medivac helicopter at Kona Natural Energy Laboratory and medic assistance at Kona Airport. HIARNG helicopters were used to survey potential disaster areas; the HIANG C-130 to airlift boats and crews for the State De partment of Public Safety.

Although media attention focused on the Big Island, the total eclipse extended to Maui and preparations were made on the Valley Isle as well. A communication station was set up at Nuu Landing for communication with Wailuku. Medical evacuation centers were erected at Nuu Landing and Kipahulu; a third medical center, consist ing of three air-mobile tents, was set up on the rim of Haleakala Crater. Two vehicles patrolled between the landing and Ulupalakua Ranch.

The eclipse and Molokai fire provided the Hawaii Army and Air National Guard with excellent opportunities to carry out coordinated relief efforts in times of state emergency.

– 1991 April – June Pūpūkahi pp. 1 & 4

Fire outbreak on Molokai. The wildland fire was one of the worst recorded for the island of Molokai. The fire started on June 21, 1991. It was contained for three days before flaring up again. Sporadic winds fanned its spread, and by the time the fire was extinguished on June 28, nearly 13,000 acres of land had burned, including nearly 6,000 acres of forest and game preserves. A total of 37 fire fighters battled the blaze for seven days, aided by military and civilian helicopters. Military assistance included Hawaii National Guard troops, Army Guard helicopters and Air Guard C-130 cargo aircraft.

– 1992 Annual Report pp. 16

In June, we assisted the Molokai Fire Department by airlifting 18,000 lbs. of fire fighting equipment along with delivering 33,400 lbs. of JP4 fuel for the helicopters flying fire suppression missions for the Molokai brush fires. The crew consisted of Lt. Cols Melvin Honda Peter Pawling, and Ed Miyahira. Maj. Roy Sakata. Capt. Kevin Carcia, and MSgts Alan Ogata and Sam Wong.

– Five Decades of Service Excellence Hawaii Air National Guard Golden Anniversary 1946-1996 pp.45