When “The Spirit of Hawaii Ke Aloha” landed on the flightline here it delivered a new era of air operations for the Pacific Air Forces and the U.S. Pacific Command.

Hickam is the first base outside the continental U.S. to permanently host the strategic airlifters. By the end of the year the base will be home to eight C-17 Globemaster IIIs.

Gen. Paul V. Hester, Pacific Air Forces commander, said the C-17 is a key tool for providing humanitarian relief.

“The C-17, as amazing as it is, is nothing more than an opportunity for America to continue to show who America is,” he said.

“We’ve had the opportunity … in times of need to show those in this region in particular that America can reach out the velvet hand of humanitarianism and that we can in fact embrace those who need help,” General Hester said.

The aircrew, maintenance, support and leadership teams are a mix of active duty and Air National Guard Airmen.

"We're really excited about this partnership with the 15th Airlift Wing,” said Brig. Gen. Peter Pawling, 154th Wing commander. “It will combine the best strengths that the Air National Guard and the active duty have to offer -- the long-term stability and expertise of the Guard work force and the fresh ideas and enthusiasm that active-duty Airmen will bring.”

“We're one team first, then we're the Hawaii Air Guard and active duty. I honestly could not think of a better place to forge this partnership than here in Hawaii where we have such long established ties between the Hawaii Air National Guard, our active duty hosts and PACAF,” he said.

U.S. Pacific Command has a large area of responsibility -- approximately 105 million square miles. The flexibility and power of the C-17 will make that area more manageable. As more C-17s arrive at Hickam at the rate of about one a month, the capability of the Pacific Air Forces will expand, allowing for quicker response in the theater, he said.

“When the back end of the airplane opens up and food, water, supplies, medicine and doctors come off and others come in with civil engineers and Seabees who jump off to make life better for those who are in trouble on the ground, it is in fact that marvelous C-17 with the American flag up on the tail that provides that,” General Hester said.