Hawaii National Guard helicopters will be kept ready to respond quickly to wildfires throughout the state during high-risk months for a second straight year under an emergency proclamation.

Read more Knicks hold off Spurs, take 2-0 lead in NBA Finals

Gov. Josh Green on Thursday signed the proclamation intended to increase resources for containing and extinguishing fires in an early stage.

Under the proclamation, three Hawaii Army National Guard helicopters — a CH-47F Chinook and an HH-60 Black Hawk on Oahu plus a Black Hawk on Hawaii Island — will be continually “postured to fly” firefighting missions supporting county and state first responders through Nov. 30.

The endeavor is dubbed Operation Ho‘opauahi (to extinguish fire), and officials involved said the proactive move proved to be of extraordinary value last year when Guard air crews logged 105 flight hours and dropped 283,908 gallons of water on four major fires with an initial quick response time.

One of the four major fires last year was in August along Kunia Road on Oahu where two Guard helicopters made more than 60 combined drops using at least 129,000 gallons of water over two days.

Green signed the 2025 wildfire season proclamation on July 18, and expanded the window this year in part because there had been multiple wildfires in the first half of July last year that led to residential evacuations and one fatality.

Generally, the proclamation extends the governor’s authority to activate Hawaii National Guard units to the state Adjutant General, allowing such delegated activation when necessary to assist and aid civilian authorities in averting imminent public danger or to provide disaster relief.

The proclamation also provides funding for flight operations, refueling and maintenance support from June 1 to Nov. 30, which includes the two typically warmest months of the year, August and September, that help increase dry vegetation and risks of wildfires.

Read more County seeks to acquire land to expand Puna road despite resistance from owner

Hawaii’s Adjutant General also can activate other Guard assets that include water tender trucks, evacuation teams and traffic control support personnel under the proclamation.

“For the second year, we are taking steps to ensure Hawaii is prepared and the valuable time needed for response is accelerated,” Green said in a statement.

Maj. Gen. Stephen Logan, adjutant general of the state Department of Defense, said in a statement that Operation Ho‘opauahi reflects the Guard’s “Always Ready, Always There” motto.

“Operation Ho‘opauahi exemplifies the Hawaii National Guard anticipating a need and then being there to support it,” he said.

James Barros, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency administrator, said in a statement that the initiative allows HI-EMA to quickly support county wildfire operations by posturing Guard resources.

“Operation Ho‘opauahi is an example of how the state and our county partners are taking this proactive stance as we face another dangerous wildfire season,” he said.

Read more As big PGA Tour remodel vote approaches, CEO Brian Rolapp remains confident