Photo By Corwin Colbert | 180703-N-QE566-0020 HONOLULU (July 3, 2018) (From left to right) Rear Adm. Brian Fort,...... read more read more
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PEARL HARBOR – On the eve of Independence Day, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell invited Rear Adm. Brian Fort, commander, Navy Region Hawaii and Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific, to participate – along with other city and county agencies – in a safety message to the community in a press conference at Honolulu Police Department headquarters.
Participants addressed proactive and preventative safety initiatives during the Rim of the Pacific exercise currently underway in Hawaii.
In a press conference attended by first responders HPD, Emergency Medical Services, the Honolulu Fire Department and other agencies, Caldwell told local media, “Right now we have 25 nations ... 25,000 members of different armed forces ... on island enjoying the best of Hawaii, something we’re very proud of. We want to show aloha to the members of the military while they’re here and those who are visiting.”
Both Caldwell and Fort noted that many RIMPAC participants bring families.
“We want to thank the state of Hawaii for hosting the RIMPAC exercise and welcoming the sailors from all the nations,” Fort said. “We actually have families who arrive here with many of the sailors ... Many will come back at the end of the exercise.”
In the first week of RIMPAC, participants are able to go hiking, enjoy the beaches, compete in sporting events and join in July 4th celebrations, including those held Wednesday at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.
In his remarks, Fort noted that all RIMPAC participants receive extensive safety briefings and cultural awareness information.
During RIMPAC the Navy provides nearly 100 shore patrol personnel who are on duty from sundown to sunrise and who work closely with HPD in Waikiki. Command Master Chief Greg Carlson, Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific, will participate in a ride-along with HPD Friday night, July 6.
In April, Command Master Chief Greg Vidaurri, commander, Navy Region Hawaii, hosted captains from HPD to speak to senior enlisted leaders from throughout Oahu.
At Tuesday’s press conference Honolulu Police Chief Susan Ballard noted the strong partnership with the Navy and other services.
“I want to echo what Admiral Fort said. We really have a great relationship with the military here, whether it’s RIMPAC or it’s the other 365 days of the year,” Ballard said.
Ballard urged people to help each other or, if they don’t feel comfortable getting directly involved in a situation to call 911 so the police can respond.
“For Hawaii, this is the Aloha State, so we want to show aloha not just to the military but also to each other,” she said. “So if you’re down in Waikiki and you see someone who needs help take the time to help them.
The press conference included discussion about water and fireworks safety and environmental stewardship by beachgoers.
Fort commended the partnership not only with HPD but also between the Honolulu Fire Department and Navy Region Hawaii’s Federal Fire Department.
The partnership includes providing firefighting and emergency medical services in cooperative engagements under a mutual aid agreement.
“The theme of RIMPAC is “Capable Adaptive Partners,” Fort said, “and that theme really resonates in the work we, the region, do with the first responders and the work we do with the city and county.”
The press conference was live-streamed by KHON(FOX)2 and is posted on its Facebook site.
| Date Taken: | 07.05.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 07.16.2018 22:05 |
| Story ID: | 283363 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, HI, US |
| Web Views: | 33 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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