The number of Hawaii National Guardsmen activated to provide support during the COVID-19 pandemic increases threefold today.
An additional 800 soldiers and airmen will join the approximately 400 guardsmen activated last week to further assist in the fight against the novel coronavirus that’s now sickened 530 people and killed nine in the state, Brig. Gen. Moses Kaoiwi Jr. said Tuesday during the state’s daily briefing streamed online.
Commanders have been assigned for each of the state’s four counties, he said. Contact has already been established between those commanders and the respective county mayors and emergency management personnel.
“I am confident, by working together, we will meet our objectives of continuing to flatten the curve, and create a safe, secure environment for the people of Hawaii,” said Kaoiwi, director of the Hawaii Army National Guard’s Joint Task Force staff.
Kaoiwi didn’t provide details on the number of airmen and soldiers to be stationed in each county. However, he said the support of the now 1,200 Hawaii National Guardsmen activated in the state would be based on need.
“All of our support is based off of what the need is, so we are working with the Hawaii (County) Civil Defense and the mayor to determine what that is,” Kaoiwi said in response a query posed by West Hawaii Today.
For now, that is assisting with medical screening of passengers at airports, including at Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport in Kailua-Kona and Hilo International Airport, which has been taking place since April 6.
“We expect more additional requests to come in as the days go by and as such we will do as we anticipate what the needs are and plan,” he said.
Just what that means for the public, and whether the airmen and soldiers and their Humvees will be more visible in the community remains to be seen. However, on Maui and Kauai, the Hawaii National Guardsmen are assisting county police at checkpoints set up around the islands.
“We expect some security missions; some contact tracing and other types of missions such as that,” he said in reference to Hawaii County, “but we’re not going to get ahead of what the requests are.”
“As long as the county needs that type of support, we will be there to provide it,” he added.
Kaoiwi also noted the National Guard has received federal funding to assist in pay and allowances for soldiers and airmen. However, he said, Gov. David Ige remains in command.
Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim was unable to be reached following the afternoon briefing to comment on the activation of additional Hawaii National Guard troops and what it means for the Big Island.
