Hawaiʻi National Guard Concludes Hurricane Lowell Recovery Operations
The Hawaiʻi National Guard mobilized more than 300 personnel statewide to support emergency operations when Hurricane Lowell brought Category 2 strength winds and severe storm surges to the state. In the immediate aftermath, which caused widespread power outages and flooding, the Guard rapidly deployed assets to assist the affected communities on Kauaʻi.
"During our response to Hurricane Lowell, the men and women of the Hawaiʻi National Guard stood shoulder to shoulder with our community," said Kauaʻi County Mayor Derek Kawakami. "When fire broke out at the Kāpule Building, they ran toward it and helped protect our civic center at a time when we could not afford another loss. Day after day, they staffed our temporary green waste sites so families could clear their yards and start putting their lives back together. But what our people will remember most is that they were here, in our neighborhoods, ready to help wherever they were needed.”
The morning after the storm hit, the 93rd Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear Enhanced Response Force Package integrated directly with the Kauaʻi Fire Department to conduct wide-area searches for missing civilians in Hanapēpē, while simultaneously carrying out assessments throughout Kōloa and Poʻipū.
Guard aircrews airlifted 11 Transportation Security Administration personnel to Līhuʻe Airport aboard a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, a mission that enabled the reopening of Kauaʻi’s primary aviation gateway.
To restore ground mobility, HING sawyer crews deployed across the island to clear transportation routes that had been choked with debris and uprooted trees. Guard personnel also established traffic control points and conducted roadway flagging operations in active recovery zones and ensure the safe passage of vehicles through damaged areas.
During the early phase of the recovery, aircrews executed a vital medical evacuation, transporting eight dialysis patients and three caregivers from Kauaʻi to Oʻahu aboard a CH-47 Chinook helicopter. To support other on-island patients, Guard members sourced and installed an emergency backup generator to restore power for a dialysis center in Līhuʻe, supporting an additional 75 patients.
“Assisting with providing power to the Kauai dialysis center truly hit home for me. I have family members who currently receive dialysis treatment,” said Master Sgt. Patrick Morales, 154th Civil Engineering Squadron. “As part of the generator team with the Hawaiʻi Air National Guard, I am proud to use my skills in service to the people of Hawaiʻi.”
As the recovery progressed, the Guard shifted focus toward sustaining local communities and supporting critical infrastructure. Personnel were deployed to key food distribution points, assisting local volunteers hand out food and critical supplies. In total, the recovery operations resulted in the distribution of 2,045 meals, 2,150 gallons of bulk water, and 243 cases of bottled water to residents.
The HING also provided crucial assistance to the Kauaʻi Humane Society. After the shelter's primary generator failed, leaving more than 450 displaced and local animals vulnerable, the Guard provided a temporary backup generator keeping the facility powered while permanent repairs were executed.
Working in close coordination with the Kauaʻi Emergency Management Agency, the Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency, and county authorities, soldiers and airmen successfully transitioned all remaining recovery duties back to the county as power, water and essential infrastructure across Kauaʻi are mostly restored.
“Mahalo nui loa to Governor Green for sending help without hesitation, to Maj. Gen. Logan for his leadership and steady partnership, and to our friends at HIEMA who worked alongside our team every step of the way,” said Kawakami. “Most of all, mahalo to every Guard member who put their own recovery on hold to care for their neighbors. Kauaʻi will not forget it."
While Kauaʻi was the primary focal point of recovery after Hurricane Lowell, the HING maintained a coordinated, statewide presence to address threats from subsequent Hurricane Nolo during recovery operations.
In Maui County, which faced flooded stretches on the Honoapiʻilani Highway from Hurricane Lowell’s storm surge, Task Force Maui utilized its High-Wheeled Vehicle Teams to safely transported four patients through the flooded areas and recovered one local emergency ambulance stuck in a roadside ditch.
In Hawaiʻi County, HING personnel are continuing their third month of supporting recovery efforts from Hurricane Lala. In Nāʻālehu, Guard Soldiers and Airmen are providing cemetery support working closely with local officials to clear storm debris from the affected area.
The Hawaiʻi National Guard’s remains ready to sustain operations during an exceptionally active Pacific hurricane season. By conducting training and executing equipment checks prior to hurricane season and maintaining direct communication with county and state disaster response partners during the season, the Guard ensures it’s ready to respond to any subsequent weather systems threatening our island chain.
"Our commitment to the safety of Hawaiʻi does not end when a storm retreats," said Hawaiʻi National Guard, Maj. Gen. Stephen Logan. "Even as we stand down our recovery teams on Kauaʻi, our eyes are fixed on the horizon. We remain in a constant state of vigilance, ready to deploy our Soldiers, Airmen and tactical assets to protect our ʻohana from whatever disaster may come next."
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