The solar panels, batteries and charge controller were stolen from the Hualalai repeater.  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.

 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.   Bob, AH6J

Dean Manley, KH6B, representing the Hawaii QRP club (KH6IAA) reminded us of some coming events.  On Saturday August 11, 2012 the Hilo ARC 81st Summer Potluck Picnic will be at Wailoa River State Park in Hilo.

The HealthComm net is on the 1st Saturday of each month.  April 7 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.

 October 12 to 14 is Pacificon 2012 at the Marriott in Santa Clara, CA.  It will also be the ARRL national convention.  Plan now to go.  The ARRL website is up to date and is: http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/arrl-national-convention-pacificon-2012  The official Pacificon website has not been updated to 2012 yet but does have some information.  It is: http://www.pacificon.org/

The Big Island International Hamfest will be in Keaau on October 27.  The building secure and ARRL has sanctioned the event.  Admission is free however it is necessary that you sign in.  We encourage a small donation to help offset the rent.  There will be more information shortly.  There will be a testing session.  Web URLs will be: www.biarc.net  & www.arrl.org/sections/PAC.html as information becomes available.

 Contact Mel, KH6H, at 808-250-4591 or kh6h@arrl.net for more information on the Maui testing schedule. 

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 and much more.  Ron was featured on Newsline report 1740 on December 17.  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

As always the latest repeater listing for the State of Hawaii can be found at:
http://www.hawaiirepeaters.net/coordinated.htm

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/coordinated.htm

Part of the preparation process is training.  Kevin Bogan, AH6QO and Bart Aranoff, WH6AA are teaching and coordinating a series of Technician Class License Preparation classes for the HAH.  Kevin just completed two years as Vice Chair of HSVOAD and will continue as Chair of the Communications Committee.  He plans to also teach License classes for Catholic Charities and other members of VOAD.  Your SM has been reelected as Vice Chair for East Hawaii Island VOAD.  Bob Anderson, KH6AS, is chair of the Kauai VOAD group.  VOAD stands for volunteer agencies active in disasters and includes Salvation Army, American Red Cross, Food bank, many churches and ARRL.

 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 just went up.

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.