Pearl Harbor Emergency Response Team

When it comes to beating dispatch stress, Hawaii is the place to be. Often envied as an ideal vacation destination, the islands are blessed with a pleasant climate and a collection of beautiful beaches, fertile hiking trails, breathtaking scenic points, and a delectable variety of natural fruits and ethnic cuisine.

Hawaii’s archipelago of 137 islands has an unexpected beauty formed by a tumultuous past of molten lava millions of years ago. Though the map view shows seemingly unimpressive specs in the middle of a vast ocean, the tropical paradise has about 1.5 million residents and boasts close to 10 million tourists each year.

Fresh coconut, passion fruit, and butter-loving banana bread are tempting introductions to a wider wealth of diverse culture and history the islands have to offer. With a blend of Polynesian, Asian, and American influences, Hawaii combines varying backgrounds and traditions with celebrated fellowship. Some might say Hawaiian culture starts with the spirit of “Aloha,” living in harmony with the surrounding water, land, and people.

Emergency services and isolation

Commander Navy Region Hawaii (CNRH) Regional Dispatch Center (RDC), stationed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (USA), is a Navy and Air Force installation that celebrates and protects the islands’ diversity and unity. The multifaceted center has utilized the Medical Priority Dispatch System^™ (MPDS^®) for over 20 years as part of their medical, fire, and police dispatch services for the Navy, Marines, Amy, and Air Force. 

The RDC covers an area of over 120,000 acres (190 square miles) between the islands of Oahu and Kauai, caring for approximately 214,000 active military personnel, retirees, their families, and civilians. The staff of roughly 20 employees also serve as a backup center for Honolulu’s city and county emergency services.

Separated by seemingly endless ocean, the RDC must function independently, which is part of what inspires their vision to engage the community in preparedness efforts and overall sustainment of resiliency.¹

“Our island state operates differently from our stateside counterparts,” said Kerri Cabasa, Operations Manager. “We have excellent relationships with our mutual aid partners in the city and county of Honolulu and state agencies, which helps to provide emergency services to the islands, but we can’t readily rely on others’ resources.”

During large-scale incidents like the Maui wildfire disaster of 2023, other counties and federal agencies flew in services and personnel to provide aid in the face of evacuations and widespread damage, though the isolation of the islands created challenging limitations.

Dispatch dynamics and tourist trends

RDC regularly handles roughly 3,000 emergency calls per month or about 300,000 emergency calls per year, the majority of which are medical in nature. The types of calls vary depending on the time of day or season, especially with the influx of tourist activity. Emergency Dispatchers are sensitive to the unique needs of a military community, especially when handling incidents that deal with family offenses or psychiatric/behavioral issues. The holidays can be a particularly difficult period.

“Although the RDC is not as large as other centers, there is a sense and sentiment of diversity that many of our dispatchers recognize and appreciate,” Cabasa said. “We have a mix of local civilians and people that transfer over here from the continental states, like military spouses. What unites our employees is having a purpose and giving back to the community.”

Though most of Hawaii’s inhabitants speak English, the RDC occasionally uses translation services to address diverse language needs. This is especially critical when covering large military trainings like RIMPAC—the Rim of the Pacific Exercise—which is the world’s largest biennial international maritime warfare exercise, a unique opportunity fostering cooperative relationships and ensuring security on the world’s oceans.

In 2024, RIMPAC included approximately 29 nations, 40 surface ships, 3 submarines, 14 national land forces, over 150 aircraft, and more than 25,000 personnel who trained and operated in and around the Hawaiian Islands during the exercise from June 27 to Aug. 1.²

Beyond the surge in crowds drawn for military trainings, some travelers long to understand more about the military history and presence on the islands by visiting Pearl Harbor, the Arizona Memorial, the USS Missouri (Mighty Mo), and the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Other visitors are also drawn to the cultural architecture and historical value of the Iolani Palace, a remnant of the former reigning monarchy. Lively traditional performances offer cultural entertainment at the Polynesian Cultural Center, and the natural and sacred landscapes of the jungle-rich Kualoa Ranch (where several movies have been filmed, including Jurassic Park) immerse visitors in a vibrant paradise.

The nightlife of larger cities, such as Honolulu, Kona, and Waikiki provide ample opportunities for shopping and dining. But perhaps the most desirable draw is catching the waves, snorkeling, and enjoying ocean views while beach-bumming among the palm trees at the Ala Moana Beach, Hanauma Bay, Barking Sands Beach, and so many others.

Yet Hawaii is more than just a dream destination. For the people who call it home, Hawaii harbors a sense of belonging. “We love our island,” said Terri Ann Noelani Kalani, Supervisory Regional Dispatch Center Specialist.

Stability and connection

The range of Polynesian cultures and diversions not only creates a sense of celebrated island life, but it is a respite from the daily stresses, especially for Emergency Dispatchers carrying an emotionally heavy responsibility.

At the RDC, each day is unique and filled with the adrenaline of meeting unexpected tasks while protecting what matters most. “We want to help all our people [responders and civilians] go home to their families at the end of their shift,” Kalani said. When their 8 hours at the console are done, the RDC Emergency Dispatchers are encouraged to step out into the raw beauty of the island as part of an emotional release.

“In Hawaii, there is a saying that you can go watch the sunrise on a snowy ridge atop a volcano and catch a wave on a boogie board that same afternoon,” Kalani said.

Cabasa also encourages RDC personnel to get outside of the comm. center for a well-deserved break.

“They need balance, they need to clear their heads from the heaviness, to spend time with friends and family, partake in delicious cuisines, maybe sing karaoke at the end of the night, and enjoy themselves,” Cabasa said.

The island provides a perfect setting to breathe in beauty and offers opportunities to foster an innate respect and connection to nature.

“We have a Hawaiian proverb called O’lelo No’eau (pronounced OH-LEH-LOW NO-AYE-OW) in our culture: ‘E malama ‘oe I ka ‘aina, e malama ka ‘aina ia ‘oe,’” said Training and Quality Assurance Specialist Summer Kipu. “This translates to ‘Take care of the land, and the land will take care of you.’”

Abiding by this O’lelo No’eau means that the Hawaiian inhabitants enjoy the land while aiming to leave every place cleaner than they found it. Even visitors are encouraged to volunteer for an hour or two at a lo’i kalo (a traditional Hawaiian taro patch) to respect and connect with the land while being immersed in Hawaiian culture. “You can enjoy the surrounding tranquil beauty that isn’t privy to everyone,” Kipu said.

Love for the land is just part of a larger purpose to love and care for the people as well.

For the RDC team, it is valuable to recognize the impact of their dispatch services, protecting the community they love while celebrating the inclusive environment they have created within their center. “When our dispatchers tell us they love the people they work with and they love the working environment, it’s worth all the effort,” Kalani said.

Sources

1. “Emergency Management.” Official U.S. Navy Website. https://cnrh.cnic.navy.mil/Operations-and-Management/Emergency-Management/ (accessed Nov. 21, 2024).

2. Lt. Cmdr. Reinheimer, R. “RIMPAC 2024 Kicks Off in Hawaii.” Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Official U.S. Navy Website. 2024; June 28. https://www.cpf.navy.mil/Newsroom/News/Article/3822005/rimpac-2024-kicks-off-in-hawaii/ (accessed Nov. 21, 2024).