The DoD’s presence in Hawaii has deep historical roots and adds to the overall security of the state and the nation. Hawaii’s ideal location in the Pacific hosts a strategic headquarters for military activities in the Asia-Pacific region.
At the same time, this presence in Hawaii has had a significant positive impact on the local economy, jobs and business opportunities.
These reasons punctuate why the military community continues to have strong support among the residents of Hawaii, and local government organizations. The relationship is more than an association between federal and state—it’s a partnership.
During the COVID-19 Omicron surge, in late December 2021, more than 200 Oahu first responders were out of work, either because they were infected with COVID-19, or they were in COVID-19 quarantine protocol, according to Douglas Asano, assistant fire chief, Federal Fire Department Hawaii. Thereby, reducing the capacity of the Oahu 911 EMS system.