Ron Hashiro

The most frequently heard remark after Hurricane Iniki was that we as amateur radio operators should have been better prepared. The amateurs on Kauai and Oahu were challenged to exchange and deliver hundreds of messages accurately in a timely fashion each hour for many hours. The messages were a mix of short messages and some that were multiple pages in length and most of the messages were handled by voice communications as that is the means that most operators had operational.

A major part of the Makani Pahili exercise is for all operators and stations to gain experience and proficiency in sending and receiving ICS-213 messages between nets and under net operating conditions. It tests existing arrangements and capabilities between the amateurs and the agencies and communities that we serve. It tests the operator's ability to generate and efficiently exchange ICS-213 messages under actual net operating conditions and changing radio propagation.

Stations are encouraged to generate and send test messages for the exercise, gain practice and become proficient BEFORE the next emergency or disaster. Stations are encouraged to generate ICS-213 messages that contain an actionable request as opposed to simply a message that is informational so that the receiving party can generate a message containing a simulated reply. All stations will use "THIS IS AN EXERCISE MESSAGE" at the beginning and end of all messages.

Net Control Stations, bulletin stations and net liaison stations are encouraged to pass the net bulletins on the nets to simulate and practice passing net bulletins.

A PDF version and an MS Word version of the net preamble and net bulletins are available.

The event planning is in the preliminary phase. The Makani Pahili 2011 timeline is used as a guide. The preliminary timeline for the net on Saturday, June 2, 2012 from 9:00 am to 12 noon is:

• 9:00 am, start the net. Announce net preamble, take check-ins, start message handling
• 10:15 am, simulated 50 mph winds arrive on Oahu. HF antennas on towers fail. (Loss of much HF communications on Oahu) Loss of commercial power. Loss of inter-island links on SCD VHF repeater system. SCD VHF repeaters go into stand-alone mode.
• 10:30 am, simulated Category 1 winds arrive on Oahu. Progressive loss of Oahu repeaters due to antenna damage. Mobile operators forced to cease operations due to flying debris. Only hurricane-rated repeaters remain on the air. Operators next to glass windows forced to withdraw to safer interior rooms. (If you're in a concrete building, move to an interior room and test simplex operations.)
• 11:00 am, simulated landfall
• 11:30 am, first eyewall passes. Initial field damage assessment possible
• 11:50 am, second eyewall passes. Advise all persons to simulate going back to interior rooms.
• 11:55 am, Reenable SCD VHF repeater links in preparation for winding down net. Reenable 146.88 MHz repeater. Announce final statistics (if available)
• 12 noon, close the net

Messages will be exchanged in ICS-213 message format.

Statewide Hurricane Exercise - State CD RACES/ARES participation.

Expected path of the simulated exercise hurricane includes landfall on the island of Oahu.

May 31 - NWS issues a hurricane warning
June 2, 11:00 am HST - Category 4 hurricane hits Oahu
June 4 - All clear issued, post disaster assessment and recovery phase begins

Call signs:
SCD - KH6HPZ

SCD will be on the following frequencies at differing times:

147.060 - DH Repeater - Command/Control
146.880 - DH Repeater - for interoperation with Oahu DEM RACES

Initial contact will be made on the 147.060 repeater. Stations will then be moved to another frequency, if possible, to handle traffic.

HF will also be used as follows to communicate with SCD and to exercise NVIS.

SCD will be on the SCD interisland net:
40m on 7088 kHz LSB (+/- qrm)
60m on 5330.5 kHz USB (+/- qrm)
80m on 3993.5 kHz LSB (if 40m is not open)

Messages will be exchanged in ICS-213 message format. A major part of this exercise is to gain experience in sending and receiving ICS-213 messages. Stations are encouraged to generate and send test messages for the exercise. All stations will use "THIS IS AN EXERCISE MESSAGE" at the beginning and end of all messages.

Net Schedule:
Saturday (June 2) will be from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. KH6HPZ at State CD will be operating.

Statewide Hurricane Exercise - Oahu DEM RACES participation.

Net Schedule:
TBD - KH6OCD

DEM will be on the following frequencies:

146.88- DH Repeater - Command/Control
146.98- FFMB Repeater - Traffic
146.55 Simplex
146.58 Simplex

Oahu District IV (Windward) Shelters.

Net Schedule:
TBD

Oahu District IV Shelters will be on the following frequencies:

146.66- Olomana Repeater - Disrict IV Command/Control
146.505 - District IV Simplex
146.88- DH Repeater - Liaison with DEM RACES Command/Control
146.98- FFMB Repeater - Liaison with DEM RACES Traffic
146.55 Liaison with District 1 Simplex
146.58 Liaison with District 1 Simplex

Statewide Hurricane Exercise - Healthcomm participation. The Healthcomm organization will participate on Wednesday, June 1, 2012 as part of the monthly siren net. Individuals will check-in to the Makani Pahili nets upon completion of the monthly Healthcomm net on the first Saturday of each month.

Call signs:
Healthcomm - KH6HC

147.280 - Hawaii Medical Center-West Repeater
443.775+ pl 123.0
443.825
444.775+ pl 123.0

Healthcomm will be on HF:
40m on 7080 kHz LSB (+/- qrm) Primary
60m on 5371.5 kHz USB (+/- qrm) Alternate
80m on 3888 kHz LSB (if 40m is not open) Alternate

Additional information and educational material is available at:

• Actual operations during Hurricane Iniki
• Lessons learned
• Standard Operating Procedure
• Common Hawaii frequencies