Hawaii Emergency Alert System: Who is the General now in charge?
Hawaii Governor Ige today issued Executive Order Number 18-01 in response to the erroneous ballistic attack warning issued last Saturday.
Ige puts his trust in Brigadier General, Kenneth S. Hara, currently serving as the Deputy Adjutant General of the State of Hawaii, Department of Defense in examining procedures in place for the Emergency Alert System.
The Executive Order reads
By the authority vested in me as Governor by the Constitution and laws of the State of Hawaii, in order to provide alerts, response, and relief for emergencies, damages, losses, and suffering, and to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the people, I, DAVID Y. IGE, Governor of the State of Hawaii, hereby determine and order as follows:
WHEREAS, Hawaii, with a population of approximately 1.4 million residents across eight inhabited islands, are susceptible to a myriad of natural and man-made hazards; and
WHEREAS, Hawaii is located in the most remote location on Earth separated by great distances and travel time from the continental United States; and
WHEREAS, Hawaii’s location in the Pacific makes it a highly strategic location for government and military interests which necessitates additional emergency management coordination and preparation; and
WHEREAS, Hawaii’s location and vulnerability to multiple hazards has helped Hawaii continue to develop an emergency management system intended to protect the public from all natural and man-made hazards; and
WHEREAS, as part of Hawaii’s preemptive and protective measures, Hawaii officials have been actively working on warning and response plans that include alerting the public as early as possible in order to maximize preemptive and protective actions to protect the public; and
WHEREAS, on January 13, 2018, an emergency warning of an actual ballistic missile launch was inadvertently issued during a shift change drill conducted by the State Warning Point; and
WHEREAS, this false alarm resulted in significant response actions at all levels and sectors in Hawaii; and
WHEREAS, while Hawaii’s emergency management system is highly evolved, this recent false alarm reinforces the need for continued improvement of all emergency management plans and operations.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, DAVID Y. IGE, Governor of the State of Hawaii, pursuant to the powers delegated to me by the Constitution and the applicable laws of the State of Hawaii, including chapter 127A and section 121-11, Hawaii Revised Statutes, hereby authorize and direct Brigadier General, Kenneth S. Hara, currently serving as the Deputy Adjutant General of the State of Hawaii, Department of Defense, to review the current emergency response system, including notifications and warnings, and make recommendations for improvement with such review to include:
1. Facilitating efforts to identify capability and resource gaps and develop an action plan that recommends prioritization for resources required to enhance resilience, preparedness, and response capabilities.
2. Identifying actions to strengthen and expand government, private, and public partnerships for preparedness for all hazards.
3. Revising and recommending emergency notification procedures to ensure immediate notification, confirmation, or cancellation of threats
4. Strengthening information sharing, collaboration, and communication.
5. Improving public education to help the public know what to do when an alert goes out.
6. Produce an initial action plan no later than 30 days of this executive order, a final report no later than 60 days of this executive order, and identify any portions of these documents that should not be released to the public for security or other legal reasons.
Done at the State Capitol, this 15th day of January 2018. DAVID Y. IGE, Governor of Hawaii
DOUGLAS S. CHIN, Attorney General, State of Hawaii Doug Chin
BRIGADIER GENERAL KENNETH S. HARA Deputy Adjutant General State of Hawaii, Department of Defense
Brigadier General Kenneth S. Hara serves as the Assistant Adjutant General – Army, Hawaii National Guard, Deputy Adjutant General for the State of Hawaii, Department of Defense, and commander of the Hawaii Army National Guard. His responsibilities include development and oversight of the state’s Department of Defense strategy, policies, plans, and initiatives; the State Partnership Program; theater security cooperation; external coordination; and civil support.General Hara received his commission from the Hawaii Army National Guard Military Academy, Officer Candidate School in 1987. He has served in numerous positions of increased authority and responsibility from platoon leader through Chief of the Joint Staff including other key staff positions. In 2005, he deployed as the commander of the 2nd Battalion 299th Infantry to Baghdad, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2008, General Hara deployed to Kuwait as the deputy commander of the 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. In 2012, General Hara deployed a third time as the commander of the Operations Coordination Center – Regional Command South, Security Forces Assistance Advisory Team, Kandahar, Afghanistan.
COMMISIONING SOURCE: OCS
EDUCATIONAL DEGREES: 1998, Hawaii Pacific University, Bachelor of Arts, Human Services, Honolulu, Hawaii 2008, United States Army War College, Master of Arts, Strategic Studies, Carlisle, Pennsylvania
MILITARY SCHOOLS ATTENDED: 2008, United States Army War College, in-residence, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania 2017, Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Executive Education, General Officer and Flag Officer Homeland Security Executive Seminar, Cambridge, Massachusetts
FOREIGN LANGUAGE(S): None
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:
Second Lieutenant – 26 July 1987 First Lieutenant – 25 July 1990 Captain – 8 March 1993 Major – 20 April 2000 Lieutenant Colonel – 3 June 2004 Colonel – 8 December 2015 Brigadier General – 15 October 2008
ASSIGNMENTS:
1.June 1986 – July 1987, Officer Candidate School, Hawaii Military Academy,Waimanalo, Hawaii
2.July 1987 – September 1988, Platoon Leader, Company A, 2nd Battalion, 299thInfantry, Hilo, Hawaii
3.September 1988 – July 1990, Platoon Leader, Detachment 1, Company A, 2ndBattalion, 299th Infantry, Hilo, Hawaii
4.July 1990 – January 1991, Executive Officer, Company A, 2nd Battalion, 299thInfantry, Hilo, Hawaii
5.January 1991 – July 1991, Chemical Officer, Headquarters and HeadquartersCompany, 2nd Battalion, 299th Infantry, Hilo, Hawaii
6.July 1991 – September 1991, Aviation Section Leader, 451st Aviation Detachment,Hilo Hawaii
7.September 1991 – October 1991, Aviation Section Leader, 452nd AviationDetachment, Hilo Hawaii
8.October 1991 – January 1995, S3 Air, 2nd Battalion, 299th Infantry, Hilo, Hawaii
9.January 1995 – July 1997, Base Defense Liaison Officer, 25th Infantry Division(Light) Detachment, Pearl City, Hawaii
10.July 1997 – May 1999, Training Security Officer, 103rd Troop Command, Pearl City,Hawaii
11.May 1999 – December 1999, Detachment Commander, Headquarters andHeadquarters Detachment, 103rd Troop
12.December 1999 – January 2002, Assistant S3, 29th Separate Infantry Brigade,Kapolei, Hawaii
13.January 2002 – August 2003, Commander, Regional Training Site Maintenance,Ordnance Training Company, Pearl City, Hawaii
14.August 2003 – October 2004, Executive Officer, 103rd Troop Command, Pearl City,Hawaii
15.October 2004 – January 2005, Commander, 2nd Battalion, 299th Infantry, Hilo,Hawaii
16.January 2005 – January 2006, Commander, 2nd Battalion, 299th Infantry, Iraq
17.January 2006 – August 2006, Commander, 2nd Battalion, 299th Infantry, Hilo,Hawaii
18.September 2006 – December 2006, Commander, 1st Squadron, 299th Cavalry, Hilo,Hawaii
19.December 2006 – July 2007, Branch Chief, Joint Force Headquarters-Hawaii,Kapolei, Hawaii
20.July 2007 – June 2008, Student, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks,Pennsylvania
21.June 2008 – October 2008, Deputy Commander, 29th Infantry Brigade CombatTeam, Kapolei, Hawaii
22.October 2008 – July 2009, Deputy Commander, 29th Infantry Brigade CombatTeam, Kuwait
23.July 2009 – January 2012, Deputy Commander, 29th Infantry Brigade CombatTeam, Kapolei, Hawaii
24.January 2012 – April 2012, Commander, 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team,Kapolei, Hawaii
25.April 2012 – November 2012, Commander, 29th Infantry Brigade Combat TeamForward 34, Kapolei, Hawaii
26.November 2012 – July 2013, Commander, 29th Infantry Brigade Combat TeamForward 34, Afghanistan
27.July 2013 – January 2014, Commander, 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team,Kapolei, Hawaii
28.January 2014 – October 2015, Chief of the Joint Staff, Joint Force Headquarters -Hawaii, Hawaii National Guard, Honolulu, Hawaii
29.October 2015 – Present, Assistant Adjutant General – Army, Hawaii Army NationalGuard, Honolulu, Hawaii
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS:
1.November 2012 – July 2013, Commander, 29th Infantry Brigade Combat TeamForward 34, Afghanistan
2.January 2014 – March 2015, Chief of the Joint Staff, Joint Force Headquarters -Hawaii, Hawaii National Guard, Honolulu, Hawaii
SUMMARY OF OPERATIONAL ASSIGNMENTS:
1.January 2005 – January 2006, Commander, 2nd Battalion, 299th Infantry, Iraq
2.October 2008 – July 2009, Deputy Commander, 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team,Kuwait
3.November 2012 – July 2013, Commander, 29th Infantry Brigade Combat TeamForward 34, Afghanistan
AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Meritorious Service Medal (with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Commendation Medal (with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster)
Army Achievement Medal (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster) National Defense Service Medal (with Bronze Service Star)
Iraqi Campaign Medal (with 2 Campaign Stars)
Afghanistan Campaign Medal (with Campaign Star)
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Silver Hourglass Device and M Device)
Overseas Service Ribbon (with Numeral 3)
Army Service Ribbon Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon (with Numeral 5)
NATO Medal
Meritorious Unit Commendation (with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Army Aviator Badge
Combat Infantryman Badge
FLIGHT INFORMATION:
Rating: Army Aviator
Flight Hours: 196.6
Aircraft flown: UH-1H Pilot wings from: 4 June 1991
CIVILIAN OCCUPATION:
Serves as the Deputy Adjutant General for the State of Hawaii, Department of Defense. As the Deputy Adjutant General, he serves as the primary advisor to the Adjutant General for the State of Hawaii. General Hara assumed his current assignment in January 2015.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS & AFFILIATIONS:
National Guard Association of the United States
Hawaii National Guard Association
Hawaii Pacific University Alumni Association
Association of the United States Army
National Infantry Association
United States Army and Cavalry Association
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS:
2001, Hawaii Army National Guard Outstanding Officer of the Year – Hawaii National Guard Association
2011, Hawaii National Guard Field Grade Commander of the Year – Hawaii National Guard Association
2017 Joint Qualified level III
