HONOLULU (HI Now) - RIMPAC 2026 is back in Hawai‘i, and the biggest takeaway is not the hardware. It is the relationships built among the people serving together. This year’s theme, Partners, Integrated and Prepared, puts that front and center as 31 nations train side by side through July 31.
Vice Admiral Jeff Jablon, Commander of Combined Task Force RIMPAC 2026 and Deputy Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, says connection is the real strength of the exercise. RIMPAC is the world’s largest international maritime exercise, and this year marks the 30th event since it began in 1971. The numbers are huge - about 40 ships, five submarines, more than 140 aircraft, and over 25,000 personnel operating in and around Hawai‘i.
That scale supports serious training across sea, air, and land. Crews practice amphibious operations, anti submarine warfare, air defense, maritime security, mine countermeasures, explosive ordnance disposal, and emerging technologies. Humanitarian assistance and disaster response are also part of the mission. The goal is readiness that feels real, plus interoperability that holds up under pressure.
Hawai‘i is the ideal home for RIMPAC. Its central Pacific location and access to expansive open ocean ranges make complex training possible. The spirit of aloha matters too. Many participants connect with local communities and culture, and those bonds can outlast the exercise.
Helping keep those connections strong is the State of Hawai‘i Military and Community Relations Office, MACRO. Their work focuses on mutual respect, education, and transparent communication between the U.S. Department of Defense and Hawai‘i. To learn more, visit https://www.macro.hawaii.gov/ or follow @macro.higov on Instagram.
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