Subj : Devastating Hawaii Wildfires Prompt Response from Amateur Radio Emergency Service
To   : QST
From : ARRL de WD1CKS
Date : Sat Aug 12 2023 09:35 pm

08/12/2023

ARRL� The National Association for Amateur Radio� is closely following updates
from the Hawaii Amateur Radio Emergency Service�, Hawaii ARES[1]�, as amateur
radio operators respond following deadly wildfires on the Hawaiian island of
Maui.

On Tuesday, August 8, wildfires, fueled by the strong winds of Hurricane Dora,
were burning in Maui and Hawai'i Counties. By the next day, much of Lahaina on
Maui had been destroyed.

ARRL Section Manager Jospeh Speroni, AH0A, who serves the Pacific Section
including Hawaii and US territories in the Pacific, sent a message to members
across the Section on Wednesday. "The suddenness of the Maui Disaster is
shocking. It affects us all," he said. Speroni said it was difficult to know
immediately the status of radio amateurs and equipment on Maui, including
repeaters and gateways. "Sadly, there are now confirmed deaths and several of
our ham friends have lost their homes."

Speroni reported that the ARRL Hawaii ARES website, https://hawaiiares.net[2],
was modified to provide the latest emergency communications news. The website
includes updates on Maui's amateur radio and communication infrastructure,
including affected and operational radio systems, repeaters, and other
emergency communication details.

"Wildfires have affected phones, internet, and cell services across Maui. VERY
Limited Cell contact was established with Lahaina or its ham operators due to
burned fiber lines and VERY limited hams in the area," included one of the
updates.

Hawaii has many amateur radio repeaters and an extensive internet-linked
repeater system, including KH6COM, a VHF/UHF Maui countywide system with
emergency backup power. An update, as of August 11, 2023, shares that the
KH6COM repeater system is operational in Central Maui, Haleakala Summit, Lanai,
and Molokai. "Repeaters on the Whaler and Kaanapali Beach Hotel lost linking
due to fiber optics cables burned.�Those in Lahaina can utilize the Pu'u O Hoku
Ranch repeater at the East end of Molokai."

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the people of Hawaii and especially the
Island of Maui," said ARRL Director of Emergency Management Josh Johnston,
KE5MHV. "[ARRL] was in initial contact with Section Manager Joe Speroni, AH0A,
on Wednesday, August 9, and we have had daily briefs with him. This is an
exceedingly challenging time for Hawaii, and we will be available as needed."
ARRL has offered equipment available through ARRL Ham Aid, a program
established in 2005 and funded through donations that makes emergency
communications equipment available on loan to amateur radio organizations
during disaster response when communications equipment is unavailable.

Johnston emphasized that most of amateur radio communications, including any
messages being relayed, are being handled on the existing repeater system in
the state. On shortwave, HF stations across Hawaii are operating nets on 7.088
MHz.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), on Saturday, August 12,
reported[3] that "more than a dozen federal agencies and departments are
mobilized to assist state, county, nonprofit and private sector partners to
help the people of Hawaii with recent devastating wildfires. Personnel from
FEMA, federal agencies and voluntary organizations are arriving daily to Hawaii
to support active response and initial recovery efforts."�

About Amateur Radio and ARRL

Amateur Radio Service licensees use their training, skills, and equipment to
practice radio communications and develop radio technology. Amateur Radio
Operators volunteer their qualifications and equipment for communications duty
in public service and during emergencies. Amateur Radio also provides a basis
for hands-on STEM education and pathways to careers.

ARRL� The National Association for Amateur Radio[4]� was founded in 1914 as The
American Radio Relay League, and is a noncommercial organization of Radio
Amateurs. ARRL numbers within its ranks the vast majority of active Radio
Amateurs (or "hams") in the US and has a proud history of achievement as the
standard-bearer in promoting and protecting Amateur Radio. For more information
about ARRL and Amateur Radio, visit www.arrl.org[5].

About ARES�

Amateur Radio Operators, or "hams," have a long history of serving their
communities when storms or other disasters damage critical communication
infrastructure, such as cell phone towers and fiber optic networks. Amateur
radio functions completely independently of the internet and phone systems, and
a ham radio station can be set up almost anywhere in minutes. Amateurs can
quickly raise a wire antenna in a tree or on a mast, connect it to a radio and
power source, and communicate effectively with others.

The ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Service� (ARES� www.arrl.org/ares[6]) consists
of hams who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment with
their local ARES leadership for communications duty in the public service when
disaster strikes. They use their training, skills, and equipment to prepare for
and provide communications during emergencies When All Else Fails�.


[1] https://hawaiiares.net/
[2] https://hawaiiares.net/
[3] https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20230812/fema-federal-family-unite-support-hawaii-wildfire-response-recovery
[4] https://www.arrl.org
[5] https://www.arrl.org
[6] http://www.arrl.org/ares

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