HR315

WHEREAS, the Hawaii National Guard was established on January 27, 1893, to assist authorities in providing for the safety, welfare, and defense of the people of Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, the Hawaii National Guard, on order of the Governor of the State of Hawaii, provides forces and capabilities to support civil authorities in response to natural and manmade disasters, civil disturbances, and terroristic threats or incidents to protect life and property, alleviate suffering, expedite recovery, and prevent interruptions to essential civil, state, and federal operations; and

WHEREAS, the Hawaii National Guard is comprised of the HAWAII ARMY NATIONAL GUARD (HIARNG) and HAWAII AIR NATIONAL GUARD (HIANG); and

WHEREAS, HIARNG, commanded by Brigadier General Joseph J. Chaves, is composed of three major commands: the 29^th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT), 103^rd Troop Command, and 298^th Regiment-Multifunctional Regional Training Institute, the units and installations of which are located in communities on the islands of Hawaii, Maui, Oahu, Molokai, and Kauai; and

WHEREAS, HIANG, commanded by Major General Darryll D.M. Wong, is composed of the 154^th Wing and 201^st Combat Communications Group, the units and installations of which are located on the islands of Oahu, Maui, and Hawaii, and in Alaska; and

WHEREAS, the 168^th Aviation, 291^st Combat Communications Squadron (CBCS), 154^th Air Communications Squadron, Army Aviation Support Facility #1 (AASF#1), and 29^th IBCT of the Hawaii National Guard transported large water pumps from the island of Hawaii to Kauai to divert and alleviate pressure against the dam structure during the Ka Loko Dam breach; and

WHEREAS, the AASF#1, Joint Forces Headquarters Unit-Hawaii (JFHQ-HI), and 29^th IBCT Hawaii National Guard units successfully inserted a John Deere 110 Backhoe into the Honokane Nui Valley when it could not be accessed by vehicle after the Big Island earthquakes; and

WHEREAS, the combined efforts of the 292^nd CBCS, 29^th IBCT, 230^th Engineers, JFHQ-HI, and the county of Maui helped clear 144 tons of debris and enabled state and local authorities to alleviate suffering, mitigate danger, restore critical functions, and facilitate recovery on Maui, further enhancing the abilities of both the county and Hawaii National Guard to execute coordinated, timely, and value-added support to the people of Maui; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2008, that this body hereby recognizes and congratulates the HAWAII AIR NATIONAL GUARD and the HAWAII ARMY NATIONAL GUARD for their exemplary initiatives and successes, for responding to natural disasters in a timely manner, and for being available to answer the call of duty with valor and self sacrifice.

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Honoring the Hawaii National Guard

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	315
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII