“The Spirit of Hawaii - Ke Aloha," Hickam’s first C-17 Globemaster III, delivered 27,000 pounds of recovery equipment to Kauai, Hawaii, after a dam burst, isolating thousands of residents and tourist along the island’s north shore.

What was intended to be a routine training mission turned into a relief effort after state civil defense officials asked for help getting relief equipment from the island of Hawaii to Kauai.

“This is the first time the we have used a C-17 in the state of Hawaii to support a state need like they have on Kauai. I think that is one of the greatest things for me,” said Lt. Col. Woody Woodrow, a pilot from the Hawaii Air National Guard’s 204th Airlift Squadron.

The Hawaii Air National Guard’s 291st Combat Communication Squadron helped load four industrial high-output water pumps and associated pipes onto the C-17 at Hilo International Airport, Hawaii.

“I was on Kauai during Hurricane Iniki, and being part of helping Kauai again to recover from some other disaster going on over there is a tremendous opportunity,” said Master Sgt. Bruce Hara, who oversees logistics for Hawaii Air National Guard’s 291st Combat Communication Squadron.

With a mix of active duty and Guard Airmen this is the fourth operational mission for the Air Force’s new total force structure combining Air National Guard and active duty components for the C-17 mission at Hickam.

“A lot of people have an image of a fighter pilot blowing stuff up, but really it’s about helping people and it’s the humanitarian aspect that makes the mission worthwhile,” Colonel Woodrow said.