The Coast Guard, U.S. Navy, Hawaiʻi County Fire Department, Hawaii County Police Department, Ocean Safety and other responders concluded two search and rescue exercises (SAREX) on Hawaiʻi Island.

Coast Guard Sector Honolulu personnel hold SAREXs annually throughout the Hawaiian Islands to evaluate notification and response procedures and identify shortfalls in communication and coordination of response during SAR incidents.  

The first exercise began in Hilo with asset open houses at Hilo International Airport and the Port of Hilo.
The following day the partners held a mock search for an overdue kayaker at the Hilo Bayfront Beach Park.
Once a simulated call was made to Hawaiʻi County dispatch reporting a missing Kayaker, the agencies established an Incident Command Post and deployed response teams to conduct searches of the area for a mannequin representing the missing person which was located by a Hawaii Fire Department Chopper-2 helicopter crew and was retrieved by the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter William Hart.

The partners then moved from Hilo to Kailua-Kona for a second similar exercise holding an asset open house at the Kona International Airport and Honokohau Harbor.  Asecond open-water exercise was held off Kawaihae with a similar case of an overdue Kayaker.  Partner agencies established an Incident Command Post and deployed their responders with the mannequin representing the missing person being found by the Hawaiʻi County Fire Department Chopper-2 crew and taken to awaiting medical services on shore.

The goals of the Coast Guard search and rescue program are to minimize loss of life, injury, and property loss and damage in the maritime environment, minimize the risk to responders, optimize the use of resources, and remain a world leader in maritime SAR experience and effectiveness.

The agencies involved in this year’s SAREXs on Hawaiʻi Island included:

-Coast Guard Sector Honolulu Command Center personnel
-Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point Dolphin helicopter and HC-130 Hercules with aircrews
-Coast Guard Cutter William Hart
-United States Navy SH-60B Seahawk Aircrew
-Hawaii County Fire Department Responders
-Hawaii County Police Department Responders
-Hawaii County Emergency Medical Services Responders
-Hawaii County Ocean Safety and Life Guard Services Responders
-Department of Land and Natural Resources Hawaii Division of Conservation and Resource Enforcement Responders
-NOAA Office of Law Enforcement Boat crew

Photo credit: United States Coast Guard