HING
Hawaiʻi National Guard
Citizens Guard (1893 – 1902)
National Guard of Hawaiʻi (1893 – 1925)
Prince’s Own (1874 – 1889)
Leleiohoku Guard (1874 – 1889)
King’s Guard (1874 – 1893)
Honolulu Rifles (1883 – 1890)
Honolulu Rifles (1857 – 1873)
st
Hawaiian Guard (1852 – 1857)
Leleiohoku Guard (1860 – 1873)
st
Hawaiian Cavalry (1852 – ???)
The first colonial militia was established in Massachusetts on Dec. 13, 1636. State militias later became the National Guard of the United States, making the National Guard the oldest component of the U.S. military. The need for colonial militia was ratified in the U.S. Constitution. The Militia Act of 1903 created the modern National Guard and affirmed the National Guard as the nation’s primary organized combat reserve force. The National Defense Act of 1947 established the Air National Guard as a separate reserve component at the same time it established the U.S. Air Force. The U.S. traditionally had a small standing Army and Navy, and state militias were called up for active duty during wars and other times of crisis. National Guard units have fought in every war in U.S. history.
The Hawaiʻi National Guard can trace its lineage to the volunteers of the 1
st
Hawaiian Guard, organized Nov. 17
th
, 1852. A volunteer infantry company was formed by the members of the 1
st
Hawaiian Guard, and they were called the Honolulu Rifles. Under King David Kalakaua, the unit became the 1
st
Regiment, Hawaiian Volunteers. On July 6
th
, 1894, a new military unit was formed, and an Adjutant General was named. The unit was called the 1
st
Regiment of the National Guard of Hawaiʻi and Col. John H. Soper became the first Adjutant General of the Republic of Hawaiʻi. In 1916, Congress federalized the National Guard and placed it directly under the control of the War Department till 1919 after the war ended.
During World War II Hawaiʻi National Guard troops saw action in the Pacific and European theaters and on Dec. 7, 1941, Hawaiʻi Guard Soldiers captured the first Japanese prisoner of war. During the Cold War, it was the Hawaiʻi National Guard that deterred Soviet aggression with Nike-Hercules missiles poised for action throughout the state. Throughout the Vietnam War, the Hawaiʻi National Guard’s 29
th
Infantry Brigade was one of only four National Guard Brigades mobilized nationwide and was the first Air Guard unit in the nation to send fighter pilots to escort U.S. bombers
In 1977 the Hawaiʻi National Guard’s Counterdrug program became the first of its kind in the nation, employing troops and helicopters in marijuana eradication. In 1994, the 199
th
Fighter Squadron became the first Air National Guard unit in the nation to patrol the northern no-fly zone of Iraq. The next brigade call ups would occur in 2004, 2008 and then again in 2012 in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait.
The Hawaiʻi National Guard called its Soldiers and Airmen to State Active Duty following Hurricanes Iniki, Lane, and Douglas, localized flooding over many years, following the earthquake in 2006, tsunamis in 2009 and 2011, Lava flows on Big Island in 2014, 2018, and 2022, for COVID-19 support, and most recently the Maui wildfires in 2023. The Hawaiʻi National Guard continues to change and evolve and is always ready to serve our state and nation.
Hawaiʻi National Guard Chronological History
The chronological history of the Hawaiʻi National Guard is currently a work in progress. We are in the process of organizing and digitizing our collection of books, magazines, newspapers, and photos. As this work progresses, the timeline and different sections will be updated with the relevant information, making it a living document. If you have any questions, comments, corrections, updates or concerns please email us at
[email protected]
Acronyms:
HING
Hawaiʻi National Guard
HIARNG
Hawaiʻi Army National Guard
HIANG
Hawaiʻi Air National Guard
MAY 1775
Company B, 1109
th
Theater Aviation Sustainment Maintenance Group, HIARNG, was organized as the Norwich Light Infantry, an element of the 20
th
Regiment.
Hawaiʻi National Guard Honors for Valor Recipients
For service members who carry out the bravest and most selfless acts in combat, the military bestows its most esteemed valor awards: the Medal of Honor, the Service Crosses and the Silver Star.
Medal of Honor Recipients
View the Hawaiʻi National Guard Medal of Honor Recipients over the years
View the MOH
Distinguished Service Cross Recipients
View the Hawaiʻi National Guard Distinguished Service Cross Recipients over the years
View the DSC
Hawaiʻi National Guard Leadership
Adjutant Generals
View the Hawaiʻi National Guard Adjutant Generals over the years
View the TAGs
Deputy Adjutant Generals
View the Hawaiʻi National Guard Deputy Adjutant Generals over the years
View the DAGs
Senior Enlisted Leaders
View the Hawaiʻi National Guard Senior Enlisted Leaders over the years
View the CSELs
Hawaiʻi National Guard Flag Officers
View the Hawaiʻi National Guard Flag Officers over the years
View GOs
Honor Roll
View the Hawaiʻi National Guard Honor Roll
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Prisoners of War
View the Hawaiʻi National Guardsmen who were Prisoners of War
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National Rifle Matches
View the Hawaiʻi National Guard National Rifle Matches over the years
Hawaiʻi Guardsmen Who . . .
Served in Public Office
View the Hawaiʻi Guardsmen who served in Public Office over the years
Were Olympians
View the Hawaiʻi Guardsmen who were Olympians over the years
Hawaiʻi National Guard Retired Units
View the Hawaiʻi National Guard Retired Units over the years
View Units
Hawaiʻi National Guard Properties
The armories, facilities and properties of the Hawaiʻi National Guard
Armories
View the Hawaiʻi National Guard Armories over the years
Fort Ruger
Learn about Fort Ruger and the State of Hawaiʻi, Department of Defense usage over the years
Annual Training – Summer Camp – Annual Encampments
View the Hawaiʻi National Guard Annual Training – Summer Camp – Annual Encampments over the years
Statement on Harmful Content in Historical Collection
If you encounter any harmful or offensive language or content in on the Hawaiʻi National Guard History website or in our digitized collection, please contact us at
[email protected]
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