The Makani Pahili Hurricane Exercise 2008 will be in May again this year.  The main Amateur Radio participation will be on Saturday, May 24, 2008, 0900W to 1200W. 
This is one week later than last year.  Please remember that information is subject to revision or modification.  Updates will come later.

Primary frequencies for State RACES will be HF 7088 kHz, 3993.5 kHz, 1870 kHz, depending on band conditions and State RACES VHF repeater system: 147.02+ Mhz (Maui), 147.04+ MHz (Big Island and Kaua`i), and 147.06+ (O`ahu).  These are the same frequencies that the Tuesday night 1900W PacSecARES net use.  The time has been extended to 1200W because HF 40m has frequently come up at about 1100W.  Please note that the State RACES VHF repeater system is fully linked thanks primarily to Robin Liu, AH6CP, State RACES Assistant Coordinator and architect of the system.

Please treat this hurricane exercise as a chance to practice everything you've got.  The next time you use it, it may be for the real thing.  The hurricane season starts June 1 and runs until November 30 in the Central Pacific (other dates for other areas.)  However, destructive weather and other disasters can happen anytime. 

The Makani Pahili Annual Statewide Hurricane Exercise allows many Hawai`i State, Federal, national, and non-governmental organizations (NGO) to work through a real-time exercise involving a hurricane striking the State of Hawai'i.  The scenario is not given ahead of time.  Agencies react as much as possible as they would during a real emergency without necessarily going into the field.  However, the Amateur Radio community is encouraged to use this exercise as a chance to coordinate with your served agency to go and provide simulated emergency communications.  If you are not affiliated with a served agency, maybe now is the time to do so.  Many worthwhile agencies exist such as State RACES, O`ahu RACES, O`ahu HealthComm, Big Island HealthComm, Skywarn, SATERN, American Red Cross (operators of the shelters), and more. 

In addition to Saturday, May 24, Amateur Radio operators will have a chance to participate during the main portion of the exercise.  On Wednesday, May 21, 1000W to 14000W Amateur Radio emergency communicators (EmComm ops) will have a chance to send traffic in to State Civil Defense (SCD).   In the past, we have only had the Saturday, Amateur Radio-only, post-hurricane, recovery net exercise which has not allowed EmComm ops to participate with the different agencies.  The Wednesday, May 21, net will be while the simulated hurricane is striking.  More details for the Wednesday participation will be announced later.

As always, please be flexible since the information, times, and requirements may change.  Ron Hashiro, AH6RH, State RACES coordinator may add, modify, or update these announcements. 
Different agencies and areas may have their own requirements.

Lastly, we need all the help we can get during a real emergency.  The best help will come from trained Amateur Radio EmComm Ops who are serving an agency, BUT that does not mean that an unaffiliated licensed Amateur Radio operator can't help - it just makes it more difficult.  It doesn't take much to get involved and hooked up with an agency or organization active in disasters.  Pick out a group that suits you and ask to work with their Amateur Radio group.  If you think that you are not interested, but know deep in your heart that you would come up during  a real emergency, then you owe it to yourself and others to learn the basics and do the minimum necessary to become properly associated. 

Please redistribute this email to anyone you think is appropriate.  For questions contact your local ARES, RACES, or other coordinator or email me, Kevin, AH6QO at kevin.bogan at  gmail.com ("kevin dot bogan at gmail dot com").

73s and Aloha,
Kevin Bogan, AH6QO
Section Emergency Coordinator, Pacific