VIDEO: Wildfire safety, precautions and improvements remain topics of high concern in the Aloha State. Aiming to help keep Hawaii communities safer throughout the hot summer months, an Emergency Proclamation was signed on Friday, July 18 by Governor Josh Green for the 2025 wildfire season. James Barros, Administrator for the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, told Island News, “What he’s directing the state departments and agencies to do is be available for response and also providing Major General Logan the authority to tap into the (National) Guard in a more rapid manner.”
The proclamation authorizes the Adjutant General of Hawaii, Major General Stephen Logan to activate the National Guard and commence operation Ho’opauahi to extinguish fire and keep an aircrew ready to provide aerial firefighting capabilities, augmenting county and state level first responder elements. “The season I think will get rougher for us, and we just want to posture our resources to be readily available,” said Barros. Gov. Green stated, “Our goal is simple: stop wildfires before they become disasters. By launching Operation Ho’opauahi, we’re giving our counties an immediate tool to respond to fires while they’re still small.”
