Operation TREK808: PACAF, HING Rapidly Provide Critical Aid to Hawaii Island Recovery

Under Operation TREK808, executed Aug. 23-25, 2026, Pacific Air Forces (PACAF), the Hawaii National Guard (HING), and state agencies conducted a rapid-response airlift to deliver critical utility equipment from March Air Reserve Base, California, to Hawaii Island in support of disaster recovery efforts following Hurricane Lala. Over two C-17 Globemaster III missions, Team Hickam active-duty and Air National Guard aircrews from the 535th and 204th Airlift Squadrons transported six heavy utility vehicles, a support trailer, and 143,790 pounds of payload to Hilo, bypassing weeks of maritime shipping delays to immediately aid local power restoration. This complex Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA) mission was enabled by no-notice HAZMAT inspections by Hickam's 647th Logistics Readiness Squadron and staging support from the 452nd Air Mobility Wing, showcasing a highly integrated Total Force effort to restore electricity to thousands of Big Island homes alongside regional utility partners.