JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii — In the aftermath of Hurricane Lowell, Governor Josh Green requested military assistance to transport specialized utility vehicles from Hawaii Island to Kauai to assist with continued widespread power outages. This airlift was an integrated effort, coordinated between the U.S. Pacific Command, U.S. Air Force, Hawaii National Guard and Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, executed by the 15th Wing on Sept. 12 – 13, 2026.
Power outages began Monday as Hurricane Lowell approached Kauai. By 6:40 a.m. Tuesday, approximately 36,000 residents across the island were without electricity.
"I simply decided that we had to do everything possible to shorten the time to recovery, and partnering with the military and utilizing our National Guard on the ground has been a major addition to our state and county efforts," said Governor Green.
Utility trucks originally relocated from California to Hawaii Island in the wake of Tropical Cyclone Lala were loaded onto two Hickam-based C-17 Globemaster IIIs for transport. The equipment was flown from Hilo to Lihue to be repurposed on Kauai to restore essential services.
On the ground, Department of War Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officers and Hawaii National Guard members received the equipment. The airlift augmented support from the 74 members of the National Guard who are currently providing Kauai ground support in the wake of the storm.
“I feel the State of Hawaii Department of Defense is extremely fortunate to be located in such proximity to U.S. Pacific Command and the Pacific Air Forces which enables a rapid response and unity of effort in times of crisis," said Hawaii Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Stephen Logan.
Transport of the utility vehicles will aid the approximate 6,800 residents that were still without power as of Sunday evening.
“We are committed to continuing support for our community members without power in whatever way we can,” said Col. Kyle Clinton, 15th Wing commander. “Supporting those that support us in times of emergency is why many of us chose to serve.”
These consolidated partnerships across Department of War and state agencies enable near real-time synergistic response capabilities to natural disasters across the Hawaiian Islands.
Imagery and video of this airlift and additional military support efforts in the wake of Hurricane Lowell are available on the official DVIDS feature page: https://www.dvidshub.net/feature/Hurricane-Lowell