Hawaiʻi National Guard Not Activating, Pōhakuloa and PMRF Elevate Security

The Hawai‘i National Guard said March 3 it was not activating or deploying locally following U.S. military attacks on Iran in a joint operation with Israel, and in an emailed statement added, "We are standing by and are in constant communication with Governor (Josh) Green,". The Guard also said, "No additional training is taking place at Pōhakuloa Training Area, but the Big Island base has a heightened level of security for employees and visitors."

The broader regional exchange began Feb. 28, when U.S. forces launched strikes on Iran; less than two hours later Iran launched a counter-attack on Israel and, within about 30 minutes of that counter-attack, Iran fired missiles at U.S. bases across the region, including in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan, sending ripples throughout the Middle East, according to the Associated Press. The AP, as cited in local reporting, warned of the intensity of the attacks and a "lack of any apparent exit plan," and President Donald Trump announced that Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed and said the operation would likely take several weeks.

Locally, the Big Island U.S. Army elevated security at Pōhakuloa to a heightened posture, with officials pausing additional training activities at Pōhakuloa Training Area and tightening access for employees and visitors. The Pacific Missile Range Facility at Barking Sands elevated its security level to BRAVO in a Feb. 28 Facebook post, saying, "This increased security measure follows a global trend of preparedness and does not reflect any direct threat or immediate danger to [Pacific Missile Range Facility] or the Hawaiian Islands," and urging, "As always, adhere to directions given by security personnel." The PRMF post also warned personnel to be prepared for potential delays and increased traffic when transiting on and off base.

Hawai‘i’s congressional delegation publicly criticized the military action over the weekend preceding the Guard statement, and Sen. Brian Schatz on the Senate floor condemned the strikes as a policy error, saying, "This is a war of choice. It did not have to happen," and adding, "There was no imminent threat from Iran. The indications right up until the attacks were that negotiations were actually trending well." Schatz voiced support for a War Powers Resolution to constrain further U.S. military action.

For service members, civilian employees and visitors, the immediate impacts on the Big Island are procedural: paused training at Pōhakuloa, elevated BRAVO security levels at Pōhakuloa and PMRF, and advisories that increased screening and traffic delays are possible at base gates. The Guard’s current posture is explicit: it is standing by and in constant communication with Governor Josh Green, but has not activated troops or ordered local deployments as of March 3, 2026.

A photograph by Edgar Agonias Jr associated with the Hawai‘i Army National Guard circulated on social media alongside the statement. Officials on the Big Island and at PMRF have indicated they will issue further directions as the situation evolves; residents and base personnel should monitor official military and state communications for any changes to security levels or access procedures.