Amateur Radio Operators Serve in Hawaii Firestorm Relief Efforts

News

Amateur Radio Operators Serve in Hawaii Firestorm Relief Efforts Aug 18, 2023

ARRL members, in the Hawaii Amateur Radio Emergency Service, continue to respond following to the deadly wildfires on the island of Maui.

The radio amateurs are coordinating with state and local officials during the response and recovery effort. On August 15, an HF SHARES gateway, and an amateur VHF VARA FM gateway were brought back online, after having been damaged. Local hams continue to update lists of frequencies and repeaters that can be used in the response.

ARRL Section Manager Jospeh Speroni, 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 radio receivers have lost their homes.”

“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.

“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, 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.