The Maui News
A joint task force that was created to respond to the recent wildfire is downsizing but will continue to assist Maui County, the Governor’s Office announced Thursday.
The Joint Task Force 50, which was activated on Aug. 12, is standing down on Saturday from a dual-status command that includes the Hawaii National Guard and active duty and transitioning to a smaller Hawaii National Guard unit called HING JTF that will assume operations starting Sunday. The new unit will provide Maui County with Hawaii National Guard personnel to assist in recovery efforts.
Active duty forces and resources under the Joint Task Force 50 will transition back to normal operations.
At its peak, the former task force reached 588 in late August, including National Guard, active duty military personnel and civilians. It helped the Maui Police Department establish security for the Lahaina impact zone, assisted FEMA in search and rescue operations and worked with the state Department of Health to expand the Lahaina Comprehensive Health Center to fill the void in acute and behavioral health care caused by the fires, according to a news release.
While the active duty personnel are redeploying to Oahu due to a decrease in mission assignments, they may return if conditions require the dual-status command again.
Gov. Josh Green thanked Maj. Gen. Kenneth Hara and Joint Task Force Commander, Brig. Gen. Stephen Logan for directing efforts.
“Together, the responsiveness of these two leaders and the teams they oversee has ensured the health and safety of wildfire survivors and others on Maui,” Green said in a news release. “We are also grateful to have the supportive commitment of INDOPACOM Adm. John Aquilino going forward, as Maui moves toward recovery.”
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