HONOLULU (HI Now) - The Hawaii Air National Guard plays a dual role that many residents may not fully appreciate. According to Colonel Regina Komine, Acting Director of the Joint Staff for the Hawaii National Guard, the Guard operates under both a federal mission and a state mission. On the federal side, Guardsmen provide airlift capabilities, air refueling, and air defense keeping operations running on a daily basis. At the state level, the Guard supports Hawaii’s counties and communities during natural disasters and emergencies, protecting lives, property, and critical infrastructure across the islands.
When disaster strikes, the Hawaii National Guard is ready to respond. Colonel Komine highlighted the Guard’s joint response during the Kona Low storm system, where Air Guard and Army Guard members activated together as a unified force. While the Army Guard took on a bulk of the domestic response positions, the Air Guard contributed unique capabilities. Guardsmen provided debris clearance support and clean water missions, efforts that were still ongoing in Wailua at the time of the interview. “It’s extremely rewarding to be able to do the state mission,” Komine said, noting that most Hawaii Guardsmen grew up here or went to school here, making the work deeply personal.
Beyond emergency response, the Guard is deeply embedded in the community year-round. Major General Logan, the Adjutant General, emphasizes anticipating what the state and counties may need, and building relationships before a crisis ever occurs. “We can’t show up the first time during an emergency and be introducing ourselves,” Komine explained. Guardsmen regularly visit schools, connect with county emergency operations centers, and engage with local organizations to ensure they are known and trusted partners long before disaster strikes.
For those considering a career path, Colonel Komine, a Roosevelt High School and UH Mānoa graduate who joined the Guard on a whim and stayed for 26 years, says the Guard offers something truly special. Members get paid to learn in-demand skills like civil engineering, HVAC, vehicle mechanics, intelligence analysis, and human resources, all of which translate directly to civilian careers. The Guard also offers the unique benefit of serving while staying in Hawaii. Komine closed with a heartfelt mahalo to two groups who make it all possible: the families who hold things together at home, and the employers who support their workers’ service. “Without employer support, we couldn’t do the job that we do.”
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