Hawaiʻi County Search and Rescue

Hawaiʻi County Search and Rescue
Name	Hawaiʻi County Search and Rescue
Type	Volunteer emergency services
Headquarters	Hilo
Region served	Hawaiʻi Island
Parent organization	County of Hawaiʻi

Hawaiʻi County Search and Rescue is a volunteer search and rescue entity that provides inland and coastal search, rescue, and recovery on the island of Hawaiʻi. It operates alongside municipal services and interagency partners to respond to missing person incidents, natural disasters, and maritime emergencies. The organization draws personnel from emergency response, fire, law enforcement, aviation, medical, and community volunteer sectors.

History

The unit traces its operational roots to regional volunteer rescue efforts that followed high-profile incidents such as the Mauna Loa eruptions and maritime rescues near Kona and Hilo. Early cooperative responses involved personnel from the Hawaiʻi County Fire Department, Hawaiʻi County Police Department, American Red Cross, and local search parties organized after natural disasters like the 2018 Kīlauea eruption and the 2006 Kiholo Bay earthquake aftermath. Over time, formalized protocols were developed drawing upon best practices promulgated by national organizations including National Association for Search and Rescue, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and United States Coast Guard. Influences from notable Hawaiian agencies and institutions such as University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa emergency programs, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, National Park Service SAR units, and U.S. Marine Corps reserves shaped training and mutual aid agreements. Mutual aid compacts with neighboring island entities like Maui County and City and County of Honolulu enhanced capability for multi-island responses during events like Hurricane Iniki-era planning and Pacific-wide disaster exercises coordinated with Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.

Organization and Structure

The organization functions as a coalition linking volunteers, county departments, and federal partners. Structural models reflect incident command principles found in the Incident Command System and National Incident Management System, with incident commanders, logistics, and operations sections staffed by qualified volunteers and career responders from agencies such as the Hawaiʻi County Fire Department, Hawaiʻi County Police Department, State of Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources, and the Hawaii National Guard. Aviation support is coordinated with units like the United States Coast Guard District 14 and local helicopter operators tied to Hilo International Airport and Kona International Airport at Keahole. Medical coordination links with Hawaii Health System Corporation facilities at Hilo Medical Center and private providers including Queen's Medical Center networks. Legal and administrative support involves the County of Hawaiʻi mayoral office and county council emergency management committees, while volunteer credentialing aligns with standards promulgated by National Park Service and Federal Aviation Administration for air operations.

Operations and Activities

Routine activities include wilderness search for lost hikers on trails such as Mauna Kea and Pololū Valley, coastal rescues near Keauhou and Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau, avalanche-style responses to flash floods in gulches like Hoʻokena Gulch, and maritime SAR coordinated with United States Coast Guard assets during vessel distress off Kealakekua Bay. The unit also participates in large-scale responses to volcanic hazards at Kīlauea and Mauna Loa, tsunami evacuations following alarms from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, and hurricane preparedness exercises with National Weather Service Pacific offices. Joint drills often include partners such as the American Red Cross, Civil Air Patrol, Salvation Army, and military units like U.S. Navy logistics teams. Search methodologies employ tracking, canine units, technical rope rescue, and coastal small-boat operations consistent with protocols used by National Association for Search and Rescue member teams.

Training and Equipment

Training programs emphasize wilderness first aid, rope rescue, swiftwater techniques, and navigation, drawing curricula from institutions like Red Cross Wilderness and Remote First Aid, National Ski Patrol rope modules adapted for cliffs, and Civil Air Patrol orientation for aerial spotting. Canine programs are informed by standards from the National Association of Search and Rescue (NASAR) and cooperation with regional police K-9 units. Equipment inventories typically include all-terrain vehicles, inflatable boats, rope systems, GPS and mapping gear from U.S. Geological Survey map standards, and radios interoperable with Federal Communications Commission-mandated frequencies and Emergency Alert System feeds. Volunteers undergo credentialing and background checks in coordination with entities such as the County of Hawaiʻi Office of the Prosecuting Attorney and participate in continuing education through workshops hosted by University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo and Pacific Disaster Center.

Notable Missions and Incidents

Major responses have included evacuations and search operations during the 2018 Kīlauea eruption, maritime rescues near North Kohala and South Kona involving coordination with United States Coast Guard District 14, and complex cliff rescues in areas like Pololū Valley and Waipiʻo Valley. The organization played roles in recovery and evacuation during significant weather events informed by warnings from the National Weather Service Pacific region and Pacific Tsunami Warning Center advisories. Collaborative incidents with federal land managers occurred within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and on protected shores like Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site, while multi-agency search efforts have involved state-level responders from the Hawaiʻi Department of Health and Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Community Outreach and Volunteer Programs

Outreach emphasizes preparedness education in communities across Hilo, Pāhoa, Waimea, and Kona, with public seminars in partnership with the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, and Civil Defense offices. Volunteer recruitment targets hikers, hunters, and maritime enthusiasts through events at venues like Hilo Farmer's Market and workshops hosted by University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo and Hawaiʻi Community College. Programs also coordinate with cultural organizations such as Office of Hawaiian Affairs and local iwi representatives to ensure culturally sensitive operations on traditional lands. Seasonal initiatives include tsunami evacuation drills with the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center and school-based preparedness curricula linked to Hawaiʻi State Department of Education safety programs.

Category:Emergency services in Hawaiʻi Category:Volunteer search and rescue organizations