The Pacific Section of the Pacific Division includes Hawaii and the United States possessions in the Pacific.  While it includes small possessions like Wake, it mainly means Hawaii, Guam, CNMI and American Samoa.  In this report we also focus on some other Pacific Areas that are not officially included such as the former US Trust Territories of the Pacific. Trusteeship was dissolved in 1986 and the area was divided into four entities.  They are the Republic of the Marshall Islands, The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), the Republic of Palau and The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI).  CNMI, which is north of Guam, is still included.

The ARRL Board of directors has awarded the 2012 International Humanitarian Award to John Bush, KH6DLK aka V63JB of Hilo, HI and Federai Island, Ulithi Atoll, Yap State, of the Federated States of Micronesia at their January meeting.   How, when and where the award will be presented has not been decided yet.  This is a developing story.

NEW CLUB FORMED TO SUPPORT KH6HME BEACONS

The unexpected death of Paul Lieb, KH6HME in July 2012 was a shock to the VHF/UHF weaksignal community. For more than twenty years, Paul’s Hawai`i-Island beacons, at 8,200 feet on Mauna Loa, have lighted the tropo path from the Big Island to the Pacific Coast of North America.

A group of local Big Island hams and other supporters have pledged to keep Paul’s legacy alive. This group formed the California-Pacific Amateur Radio Club.  It is committed to keeping the beacons operational and continuing Paul's tropo work. With the support of Paul’s family, the KH6HME call sign has been transferred to the new club. The core beacons are operational on 2m, 70cm, and 23cm, as well as the 6m beacon near sea level. The Club will soon add a westward-looking antenna to the 2m beacon to support exploring possible tropo paths into the western Pacific.  As in the past, from time to time KH6HME beacons will be operational on other bands, in the continuing effort to extend the horizons through 10 GHz and beyond. Club members continue to monitor the spots on the KH6HME reflector at: http://dx.qsl.net/propagation/tropo.php .

When reception reports are received, members will endeavor to man the site as quickly as possible. (It is a long drive up the mountain.) Look for KH6HME de KH7Y and K6MIO/KH6

Some people report they are not getting the SM report (probably because they are not an ARRL member) so the report is now being included on this website. 

*********** SM Report ******************

 This report is for April 2013.

As was reported Last Month in the Pacific Section website “preamble” we are sad to report that James Todd, KC7OKZ, age 76, passed away March 27. He was a retired Baptist pastor.  He is survived by his wife Carol Todd, KC7TSX.  There was a Celebration of life April 6.  This SK report was not in the SM monthly letter that was sent out earlier in the month of April.

 

 

April 18 was World Amateur Radio Day and marked the 88^th anniversary of the IARU.

 

 

Hawaii Preparatory Academy Radio Club ARRL affiliation has been approved by the Pacific Section Manager & Pacific Division Director. It is set for action at the next ARRL BOD vote. 

 

 

Dr. Bill Wiecking, Upper School science teacher and director of the Energy Lab at HPA, and six Upper School students—Luigi Balbo Bertone Di Sambuy, Bo Bleckel, Cat Bradley, Jessica Chow, Tori Massara, and Duncan Michael did a presentation at the 2013 Macworld/iWorld conference in San Francisco. The January conference featured the students explaining the Emotiv brain wave headset.  It is just one of the many advanced projects sponsored by HPA science department.  The ham club meets at the Energy Lab on the HPA campus.  It is a very impressive building with its power independent of the power company and computer controls to adjust the building environment. See the “Science Fair” write up under EARC below.

 

 

Field day is June 22 this year.  Information is available including maps to FD sites.  Several sites now appear under Hawaii State. 

 

 

The Pacific Section webpage is:  http://www.arrl.org/Groups/view/pacific-section.  It now contains this SM report.  Each affiliated club should fill in an activities report to ARRL at least once every year.  Inactive clubs need only send in an activities report to be current.  For more information go to: http://www.arrl.org/club-update

 

 

The Kauai ARC website is:  http://www.kauaiarc.org/

 

During their last exam KARC had one Extra, 2 Generals & 4 Technicians pass their exam.   We don’t normally list individuals by name or call to help cut down spam. Congratulations!  Their next study session and exam will be Saturday May 11, 2013.

 

 

On April 15th KARC had a special meeting & study session on Emergency Communications.  The presenter was Bob Anderson, KH6AS, the Kauai District Emergency Coordinator (DEC). For more information please contact him at KH6AS@att.net or Tad Miura at ZSSQ@hotmail.com.

 

 

On April 27 the club helped with the MS walk at Kapaa Beach Park.

 

 

They continue having weekly breakfast at The Feral Pig (Formerly: The Tiki Room) at 7:30 AM.  Remember to get your parking ticket validated just in case there is a parking attendant.

 

 

Their normal monthly meeting will be 7:00 PM on Monday May 6 at the KIUC main Office located at 4463 Pahee St. in Lihue.  Go to their website for a map.

 

 

The Emergency ARC website is:  http://www.earchi.org 

 

Their meeting is on the 3^rd Tuesday at 7PM (except June & Dec) at the Fleet Reserve Association Branch 46, 891 Valkenburgh St. Honolulu.  Their next meeting is May 21^st. Contact G.Lo at wh7bte@yahoo.com and let her know what you are bringing for the potluck.  The theme is Pizza.  The meeting topic is Field Day preparation.  The great news is it will be at Bellows on June 22 & 23 this year.  Mahalo to Trent, N2OBM, for his diligent in getting the site.

 

 

The annual Hawaii State Science Fair was April 7 to 9, 2013.  The winners were: 

 

 

$300 prize: BaoXin Liang and Anna Chen from McKinley High School for their project on Cell Phone RF Leakage. Their presentation on measuring the effects of cell phone RF leakage was well thought out and original out of the box. Congratulations to them all for a job well done.

 

 

$100 prize: Kaili Delo Santos from Hawaii Preparatory Academy. This 6th grader did an out of the box presentation on using coins to generate power, wow who would have thought you could generate power from a quarter, dime, nickels or penny. Very well put together.

 

 

$50.00 prize: Sophia Moser from Aikahi Elementary School; another 6th grader who did a project on wind power and the effects on blade design. Very well put together.

 

 

The Honolulu ARC (HARC) new website address is: http://ham.aditl.com/harc  

 

Thanks to Jim, WH6GS for the updated information.  Jim also said that a good website for Hawaii Amateur Radio information in general is: http://ham.aditl.com. HARC meets on the 3rd Saturday at 9:00 AM on odd months only (Jan, March, May, July, Sept, and Nov).  They meet at Sizzlers in Aiea. Your SM was at the March meeting.  Their next meeting will be May 18.

 

 

The Koolau ARC website is: http://www.karc.net/ .  They meet on the second Saturday at 9:30 AM. At Ho’omaluhia Park in Kaneohe.  The next meeting is Saturday, May 11, 2013 at 9:30AM at Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden in Park in Kaneohe.

 

 

NEW REPEATER: Kimo KH7U and Clem KH7HO announced the installation of a new repeater at Puu Papaa (makai end of Oneawa Hills) in Kailua. Freq. is 147.0+ MHz with 103.5 Hz PL tone. It is hoped that this repeater will give Windward coverage from Makapuu to Laie, and possibly Kahuku. Eventually this repeater will be linked with others, so upon accessing please give it a second or two to link. (This is good advice for any linked system.  SM note)

 

 

HAWAII QSO PARTY:  Joe AH0A said that the latest version of HI QSO Rules is on line. In addition to the NiMM logging program, two new ones are being adopted: SD and Genlog. The contest website is www.hawaiiQSOParty.org .  Also noted that financial support of HI QSO Party is needed and being solicited from any interested individuals or Clubs.

 

The Waikiki ARC seems to have only the ARRL club listing website:  http://www.arrl.org/Groups/view/waikiki-amateur-radio-club/type:club . That site contains a lot of information.  Their last report was Mar 27. They meet every Tue at 7AM for breakfast at the Sizzlers in Aiea. 

 

 

The Pacific Radio Amateur Transmitting Society has only the ARRL club listing website however that website says their regular website is under construction.  Their last report was Sept 15, 2008 so they are overdue for a report to ARRL HQ.  Contact KH6BZF for more information about the club. 

 

 

The Maui ARC website is:  http://www.kh6rs.org/ . 

 

Their regular meeting is on the second Wednesday of each month at 7PM in the basement of the CD EOC in the Maui County building also known as 200 South High St.  (Except December). 

 

The Maui RACES repeater on 147.02+ MHz requires a sub-audible tone of 103.5 Hz for access.  There is an unconfirmed report that the 146.94- repeater now requires a 100 Hz tone.  If that doesn’t work try 110.9 Hz.  This is according to the repeater map on the MARC website. This is a good source of repeater information for Maui County.

 

 

At the April 2013 Meeting, Bob, N0DQD and Tom, NH6Y have been restoring a Heath SB200 and shared some of their experiences with us. Tom also gave a great talk on how the SB200 Works

 

 

The Maui Amateur Radio License Examination Schedule for this year is:

 

Saturday, August 3, 2013 - Saturday, December 7, 2013.  Persons planning to take an Amateur Radio license exam should pre-register at least two weeks before the scheduled exam date. Send email to kh6h@arrl.net or call Mel, KH6H, at 250-4591 and leave voice mail, including your email address.  If no one pre-registers, the exam session will be cancelled.  Maui VE (volunteer examiner) sessions begin at 9:00 a.m. at the Maui County Civil Defense Emergency Operating Center, 200 S. High Street in Wailuku.  Exam dates and location are subject to change. Pre-registered candidates will be notified of changes in the exam date or location. Before the exam, you will receive a confirmation email with more information, including directions to the exam site. The 2013 ARRL/VEC exam fee is $15. Bring a check or cash.

 

 

The Big Island ARC website is: www.biarc.net .

 

They meet at 2PM on the 2nd Saturday Monthly at 2 PM at the Keaau Community Center. Their next meeting is May 11^th.  President Barbara Darling, NH7FY and her husband Richard, AH7G,

 

are still talking about their extended vacation to the South Pacific and New Zealand.  This next meeting will feature John Bush, KH6DLK / V63JB as the speaker on FSM trip.

 

 

Milt said a record 16 candidates tested Feb 21 with 14 passing including two who also took and passed the General.  The new General class started March 14 with testing on April 25.  Of that group three passed their General and one got the Extra.  Congratulations to all.  Milt, AH6I, is now the lead examiner for BIARC.  There will be a Technician classes beginning June13 in Hilo.  Contact Milt Nodacker, AH6I, at 965-6471 for more information or write nodacker@gmail.com

 

 

Kona Amateur Radio Society webpage is:  http://www.cfht.hawaii.edu/~veillet/hwars.html  . KARS meets on the third Sunday, which will be May 19th, from 2PM to 5PM at Wawaloli Beach Park at NELHA.  The potluck food theme is Thai food in celebration of Buddha Day.

 

 

The Kohala Hamakua RC (KHRC) website:  http://www.hamradioandmore.com/khrc.htm

 

Their next meeting will be Sunday, May 12 2013 at 2PM at the Conference Room, (Enter in rear of Gym Building), Hisaoka Gym, King Kam Park, Kapa'au.

 

 

Eric Grabowski, KH6CQ, DEC for North Hawaii, has been sending out periodic reports on the North Hawaii repeater project and other happenings in his area.  Eric lives in Waikoloa and the repeater will be located on the northwestern slope of Mauna Kea at a Parker Ranch Pump site.  The frequency 147.84/24 has been coordinated but is not published since the repeater is not yet in operation.  In his report Eric details the hardware he already has and what he needs.  For those of you unfamiliar with how to put up a repeater, this planning, permission and general paperwork part of the process can be harder than actually putting up the machine. 

 

 

The Hilo ARC They meet daily 6:30-8:30 AM at Jack in the Box Hilo.  This club is actually the oldest on the Island of Hawaii however there was a break in existence of several years until former Section Manager Dean Manley, KH6B and several others reactivated it.  They also sponsor the Council of Radio Club which meets once monthly at various restaurants in East Hawaii for breakfast.  The next will be at Ihop at the Mall on May 4^th.  The regular place was going to be the 50’s Restaurant in Laupahoehoe however it has closed.

 

 

The Hawaii QRP club They also meet daily with a listed time of 7:00 AM - 9:00 AM at “Jack In the Box” however the time varies depending on who comes.  It is very informal.   

 

The Hawaii DX Association has become less active with the loss of several key members.  These two websites are still active however the tripod site has an excess of advertisement and is almost unusable.  They both contain good information.  http://hiqrpclub.homestead.com

 

http://hawaii.dx.tripod.com/

 

 

The Marianas ARC website is: https://sites.google.com/site/ah2gmarc/home

 

However it is out of date.  They meet on for first Tuesday of the month at 7:00 PM.    Their next meeting is May 7, 2013. Beware of the dateline when figuring time and date as they are one day ahead of Hawaii. The meeting is at the KSTO radio studio on Nimitz Hill.  There is plenty of parking behind the building on the lower level. Entry to the meeting room is from the south side of the building.  There is also another website with some Guam information however it is also sadly out of date.  MARIANA ISLANDS DX ASSOCIATION NH2DX  The website www.guamham.com does not work.

 

 

Your SM visited the South Point ARC or “SPARC” near South Point on Dec 2.  They meet on the first Sunday at Noon at Manuka State park.  Their next meeting will be May 5, 2013.  They are not affiliated with ARRL.

 

 

There has been no news from American Samoa in the last several months.

 

 

Ron Hashiro’s webpage always has a good collection of news of local happenings.  See:

 

http://www.qsl.net/a/ah6rh/am-radio/in-hawaii.html .  Look especially at the 2013 events.

 

 

Hawaii's Official Amateur Radio Repeater Coordination Site is: http://www.hawaiirepeaters.net/ .

 

 

Coming events:

 

Fri May 24, 2013+      CQ WPX Contest - CW

 

Sat June 1, 2013         Makani Pahili - Annual Hurricane Exercise

 

Sat June 1, 2013+      Museum Ships Weekend (See USS Missouri)

 

Sat June 8, 2013+      ARRL June VHF Contest

 

Sat June 22, 2013+    ARRL Field Day and Hawaii Field Day

 

Fri August 23, 2013+                     Hawaii QSO Party

 

Sat October 5, 2013  ARRL Simulated Emergency Test

 

 *********    End of Monthly SM Report.    ************

 According to the agreement between American Red Cross (A 501 C3 member of VOAD) and the UH astronomy we may activate the Mauna Kea Repeater only once a month for one hour of testing or whenever the Governor declares a state of emergency.  This will be done on the First Tuesday of each month from noon to 1PM.  Since the Governor had declared a state of emergency in March 2012 due to the flooding on Kauai, Oahu and Maui, the Mauna Kea Repeater was activated.  It is on 146.72(-) MHz (no tone).  It has now been turned off since the state of emergency has expired.  The repeater and permissions were obtained through Hawaii State Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters (VOAD).

The solar panels, batteries and charge controller were stolen from the Hualalai repeater a couple years ago.  As of now the 147.16 machine is at a temporary location above Kailua-Kona.  The Kona club has not made a final determination if the repeater will be put back on top of the mountain.  Work is in progress.  Police and FBI have been notified however no updates have been given.  Your SM will try to keep everyone updated if anything changes.

There are several organizations that support the Amateur Radio efforts such as Hawaii State VOAD, various county VOADs, MARS and other organizations.  If you have news from these groups please forward it to your SM.

 Your SM would like to announce a new appointment as Official Observer of Susan Merkley, W7KFI.  She should receive confirmation and study material shortly.

 If you are interested in an appointment please let your SM know.

 List of Staff Appointments as listed by ARRL

 Kevin C. Bogan, AH6QO, ASM, SEC

 Stuart E. Johnston, KH7DX, ASM (West, South & East HI)

 Wayne O. Greenleaf, KH6MEI, ASM (Oahu)

 Gerald W. Hill, KH6HU, ASM (Kauai)

 Joseph Speroni, AH0A, ACC (all clubs)

 Roland Spoon AH6RR, STM (all nets)

 Dewey D. Proietti, NH6M, TC (coordinates TS), DEC (West HI), TS

 Russell R. Roberts, KH6JRM, PIC (all publicity)

  

List of other appointees:

Robert B Anderson, KH6AS, DEC (Kauai)

Melvin Fukunaga, KH6H, DEC (Maui), OBS, OES, 

Richard O. Ward, WH6FC, DEC (South HI)

Eric J. Grabowski, KH6CQ, DEC (North HI)

Milton W. Nodacker, AH6I, DEC (East HI)

Dewey D. Proietti, NH6M, DEC (West HI), TS, TC

 

Crichton C. Roberts, KH7MW, EC (VOAD)

Paul J. Agamata, WH6FM, EC (BIARC rptrs)

Wendy E. Albertson, AH6TA, EC (Kauai)

Bart Aronoff, KH7C, EC (HNL-Healthcom)

Michelle M. Blake, WH7XA, EC (Kauai)

David R. Broyles, KH7SO, EC (Hamakua)

Norman R. Cohler, NH7UA, EC (Kamuela, HI)

Roger Dale. Cox, KH7LZ, EC (Hawi, N. HI)

Paul Ducasse, WH7BR, EC (Volcano)

Jane E. Goldsmith, NH7TZ, EC (Kauai)

Ron I. Hashiro, AH6RH, EC (State CD)

Clement H. Jung, KH7HO, EC (East Oahu)

Robin M. Liu, AH6CP, EC (State CD)

Van R. Malan, NH7IT, EC (West HI)

Steven M. Milner, WH6N, EC (KHRC)

Tad Miura, NH7YS, EC (Lihue, Kauai)

John M. Montalbano, KH6JMM, EC (Kapaa, Kauai)

William P. Starkgraf, KD6UQB, EC (HNL)

Thomas R. Thornton, AH6ZZ, EC (Kapolei west Oahu)

Jackson M. Tsujimura, KH6DQ, EC (HNL-Healthcom)

Edgardo Vasquez, WH7DG, OES

Victor F. Morris, AH6WX, OES

William C. Jakubowski, N6XIV, OES

Dean W. Manley, KH6B, OES, TS

John R. Buck, KH7T, TS

 Robert W. Jones, NH6K, LGL

 C E. Kirk, W6ORS, ORS

 John D. Peters, K1ER, PIO

 Mervyn D. Schweigert, K9FD, OO

Every Tuesday 7AM - The Waikiki Amateur Radio Club along with Honolulu ARC, QCWA Chapter #206 and Battleship Missouri Radio (BMARC) club members informally meet at the Pearlridge Sizzler Restaurant.    After breakfast some people go to BMARC, KH6BB to operate. Join their breakfast group at 07:00 HST for "eye-ball" QSO's and lots of radio talk.  Visiting ham's welcome at the Mighty Mo. Contact Bill Kendall, KH6OO at kh6oo@arrl.net  or            808-949-1228       for more information.  

The Oahu Civil Defense Amateur Radio Club's will test on the third Wednesday of each month.  They usually meet at 6:20PM.  The testing site is the American Red Cross at 4155 Diamond Head Rd in Honolulu.  IT IS NECESSARY that you register in advance in order to pass building security and insure sufficient supplies are available.  Contact Ray Moody, AH6LT, at moody@hawaii.edu or ah6lt@arrl.net or phone 941-9239.

In all VE sessions bring a photo ID and a photo copy of your current license.  The copy will be turned in with the paperwork.  Some VE's have additional requirements so be sure to check ahead of time.

The HealthComm net is on the 1st Saturday of each month.  April 6 at 9AM is the next one.  They normally start on 3.888 MHz SSB, next 7.080 MHz SSB, last 5.371.5 MHZ USB 50w PEP.  Of course this depends on band conditions.  Lately they have been starting on 7.080 MHz.

See SM report above for Maui testing information.

Ron Hashiro, AH6RH, has an extensive website with information on many subjects including descriptions of EMCOM in Hawaii, the Hawaii QSO party, Cell phone laws, Field day locations, the tsunami warning and much more.  Ron was featured on Newsline report 1740 on December 17 and he published an article on the tsunami.  Some of the direct pages are:
http://www.qsl.net/ah6rh/am-radio/emcomm/makani-pahili-11.html - Makani-Pahili http://www.qsl.net/ah6rh/am-radio/in-hawaii.html . - Coming events list http://www.qsl.net/ah6rh/am-radio/cellular-phone-ordinance.html  - Cell phone http://www.qsl.net/ah6rh/am-radio/hawaii/fd.html – Field Day

 Check out the courses available from ARRL and FEMA to upgrade your EMCOMM knowledge.

For other information about the Pacific section check the ARRL Pacific Section website.  http://www.arrl.org/Groups/view/pacific-section .  

The ARRL web site is: http://www.arrl.org/

 Since the National Traffic System is not as strong in the Pacific Section as it could be, I have asked to be informed of nets, scheduled contacts, or regular chats that exist in the Pacific.  Thanks to many operators for sending in their information.  Below is a listing of the nets.  If you have an emergency and the only way to request help is by radio, please check in on any of these nets to pass your emergency traffic.  Don't wait for an emergency, but try checking in and testing conditions.  Also, get to know the great folks on these nets.  Please let me know of corrections and of any more nets, skeds, chats, etc. Kevin

D=Daily, Z=UTC time aka Zulu, W=Hawai'i Standard Time zone, Frequency is in MHz. Note that some days may be different in Z and W time. )0000Z=1400W(+1day)
1730(Z)/0730(W) D 21.355 Afrikaner Net Jimmy NX5B, NCS
1800(Z)/0800(W) First Sat 3.888 HealthComm HF net. NVIS ant works best. NCS Jack, KH6DQ
1800(Z)/0800(W) D 14.273 Ohana Net KH6LJ Hawaiian Isles & W. Coast
1900(Z)/0900(W) D 7.088 Friendly Net Hawaiian Isles Alternate frequency is 3888 khz. 
1900(Z)/0900(W) Sun 14.282 AmSat Net NCS: W5IU, W7LB
2200(Z)/1200(W) D 21.402 Pacific Maritime Net NCS: KK7PR (Splinter group at 21.412)
0200(Z)/1600(W) D 7.088 Hawai'i Afternoon Net
0300(Z)/1700(W) D 14.313 Pacific Seafarer's Net NCS: KK7PR Ralph Aloha, OR
0400(Z) Sat(Z)/1800(W) Fri(W) 14.291 ERRS Emergency Response International Communications Net
0445(Z)/1845(W) D 21.205 ANZA net 
0500(Z) Mon(Z)/1900(W) Sun(W). 28.485 Aloha 10-10 International Net
0500(Z) Wed(Z)/1900(W) Tue(W) 7.080/7088 MHz or 3.905/3888 MHz or 1.870 MHz PacSecARES HF Net.
0500(Z) Sun(Z)/1900(W) Sat(W) Big Island ARES net on the BIWARN repeater network.
0515(Z) F.Sat.Sun.Mon.(Z)/1915(W) Th.F.Sat.Sun.(W) 14.183 ANZA net ZL1ANF Maurice (actually starts after the 15m net)
0630(Z)/2030(W) D 7.088 Hawai'i Late Net
0700(Z)/2100(W) D 7.235 HHH Net 
0800(Z)/2200(W) D 14.315 Pacific Interisland Net 

VHF/UHF Nets
Kauai County:
2000W Monday 146.92-/147.16+ Kauai ARC net. 

City and County of Honolulu (Oahu):
1930W Daily 146.88+/444.50 EARC/OCDA/RACES (Honolulu)
1200W Tue 147.02/04/06- VOAD Net (originates on Maui)

Maui County: (Includes Maui, Molokai & Lanai)
1200W Tue 147.02/04/06- VOAD Net (originates on Maui)
0800W M,W,F 146.76-, 146.82-, 146.88-, 146.92-, 147.16+ and 147.32+ Hawaii County Net

Hawaii County:
0800W M,W,F 146.76-, 146.82-, 146.88-, 146.92-, 147.16+ and 147.32+ (BIWARN System) Hawaii County Net
1900W Saturday ARES emergency Net. BIWARN System 
1200W Tue 147.02/04/06- VOAD Net (originates on Maui)
2000W Sun 146.52 Simplex South Kohala ARES

Guam Island:
0830Z Mon/2230W Sun/(1830 Guam Time Monday)146.91- RACES
0900Z Mon/2300W Sun/(1900 Guam Time Monday)146.91- MARC
These can be accessed on IRLP Reflector 9254

Please let me know about your local VHF/UHF nets. The latest repeater listing for the State of Hawaii can be found at:http://www.hawaiirepeaters.net/ 

 

Barbara Darling, NH7FY is the overall QSL manager for Hawaii however distribution takes place at many club meeting.  Check your local club for details.  If in doubt send several SASE envelopes directly to Barbara.  Remember the postage rate will increase (again) on Jan 1, 2013.  

We need to emphasize that one of the major reasons Amateur Radio exists is because of backup emergency services.  Two major programs are RACES and ARES.  RACES  is primarily a CD or government responding group.  It was RACES people that were first with responders during Hurricane Iniki on Kauai.  ARES is an ARRL sponsored program that supports numerous emergency agencies.   While some responders have their own programs, most have letters of agreement with the local ARES group and/or ARRL national.   The official head of the ARES program is the elected Section Manager (SM) with the Section Emergency Coordinator (SEC) being the action person. Appointments such as District Emergency Coordinator, Emergency Coordinator, assistant DEC, assistant EC and Official Emergency Station are available.  Contact your SM, SEC or consult the ARRL webpages for more information. Organizations such as ARES, VOAD, CERT, RACES and others  need help however training and equipment upgrades are very important.  If you haven’t completed the basic ARES and ICS courses, now is the time to take them. ARRL offers several courses.  The basic Course is EC-001.  EC 016 is the new course and is a combination of the old EC-002 and EC-003.  EC-016 requires you to complete the following:  ICS-100, ICS-200, ICS-700, IS-800, IS-240, IS-241, IS-250, IS-1, IS-288, IS-244, IS120, IS-130 and IS-139.  It is also recommended that classroom course IS-300 be taken however it is not a requirement.  ARRL charges $35 each for its courses.  The good news is the FEMA/ICS courses are free and take only a couple hours each.

Below are the websites for clubs in the Pacific Section of ARRL. 

 Kauai ARC http://www.kauaiarc.org/

 Honolulu ARC http://ham.aditl.com/harc   UPDATED!

The Emergency ARC http://www.earchi.org/index.html

 The Koolau ARC http://www.karc.net/ .

 Big Island ARC www.biarc.net

 The Maui ARC http://www.kh6rs.org/

 The Kona Amateur Radio Society http://www.cfht.hawaii.edu/~veillet/hwars.html

 The Kohala Hamakua Radio Club http://www.hamradioandmore.com/khrc.htm

 Marianas ARC https://sites.google.com/site/ah2gmarc/home