Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point

• Established in 1945: Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point was officially commissioned in 1945, initially operating out of Naval Air Station Kaneohe Bay before moving to its current location on Oahu’s southwest coast. • Strategic Location: Barbers Point serves as the primary Coast Guard aviation facility for the Central Pacific, covering an area as far west as Midway Atoll and as far south as American Samoa. • Multi-Mission Operations: The unit carries out a wide array of missions, including search and rescue (SAR), maritime law enforcement, environmental protection, and aids to navigation. • Aircraft Fleet: The air station operates MH-65 Dolphin helicopters and HC-130J Super Hercules fixed-wing aircraft, capable of long-range patrols and rescues. • High-Profile Rescues: Barbers Point crews have performed dramatic rescues, including the 2008 rescue of the crew from the fishing vessel "Princess Hawaii" over 1,000 miles from Oahu – one of the furthest rescues in USCG history. • Role in Natural Disasters: The air station has played a key role in disaster response, providing aid and evacuation during events like Hurricane Iniki (1992) and after tsunamis affecting Pacific islands. • International Cooperation: Barbers Point often coordinates with partners in the Pacific Rim, including the Japan Coast Guard and Pacific Island nations, for joint search and rescue missions and maritime patrols. • Support for NASA Missions: In the 1960s and 1970s, Barbers Point aircraft supported NASA recovery operations for Apollo missions, standing by to assist with astronaut recovery in the Pacific. • Environmental Stewardship: The unit is active in protecting Hawaii’s unique environment, participating in responses to marine pollution, hazardous materials spills, and wildlife rescues. • Community Engagement: Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point regularly participates in local outreach, hosting open houses, school visits, and demonstrations to foster relationships with Hawaii’s diverse communities.