Honolulu, June 19, 2016 —
Aloha friends! After a week of non-stop drills, training, and flight operations, HEALY stopped in Honolulu, Hawaii for a few days of relaxation before our 140 day Arctic deployment begins. This was HEALY’s first port call in Hawaii since 2011, and the crew was grateful for the opportunity. The beautiful beaches and stunning hikes on this island paradise were enjoyed by all. The port call also allowed us to open HEALY up for public tours, attend a luau dinner, and partake in many other adventures.
Last Tuesday, prior to arrival, HEALY completed our bi-annual AVSTAN (Aviation Standardization) inspection in order to keep HEALY certified for shipboard helicopter operations. Weeks of training and preparation paid off, as HEALY passed with an overall 98.7% drill average! Having completed the shore-side requirements in Seattle prior to getting underway, this Tuesday was filled with 28 flight evolutions including touch and go’s, landings with tie-downs, Vertical Replenishments (VERTREP), Helicopter In-Flight Refueling (HIFR) and hot refuels. The evolutions began after lunch and after a brief break for dinner, continued past sunset. Thank you to LT Ron Green, LT Sarah Bradley and AMT2 Mike Tosh from Air Station Barbers Point for their professionalism and skill!
On Saturday, HEALY opened to the public for tours and more than 325 people came aboard for an up-close view of the icebreaker. Featured stops along the tour included the bridge, flight deck and hangar spaces, and the Engineering Control Center (ECC). Both locals and military families toured HEALY to learn about the HEALY’s history and unique mission set.
Throughout the week, crewmembers went out in search of adventure on the beautiful island of O’ahu. Numerous hikes, snorkeling, surfing, and downtime on the beaches were oft-favored activities throughout the week.
The port call ended Monday night with the Hale Koa Luau, where the crew experienced Hawaiian and Polynesian culture. The Morale Committee coordinated the event, which saw a great turnout for an iconic Hawaiian experience. We were treated to the Hawaiian trademarks of delicious cuisine, hula dancing, fire twirling, and relaxing music. The night was an extremely memorable and enjoyable evening, concluding with a patriotic rendition of Lee Greenwood’s “Proud to be an American” to honor all the active duty and retired service members in attendance.
Be sure to follow the ship via our track-line updates on Icefloe, and check in next week as we transit from the iconic beaches of Hawaii to the beautiful wilderness of Alaska!
Very Respectfully,
ENS Brian Hagerty
Public Affairs Officer
USCGC HEALY (WAGB 20)
For more information about CGC Healy, please visit:
//www.uscg.mil/pacarea/cgchealy
http://www.icefloe.net
Captain’s Corner:
We are back underway, steaming north after a productive and memorable port call. The crew performed exceptionally well during AVSTAN and were excellent representatives of the polar fleet throughout our stay in Hawaii. We are thankful for the opportunities we had and memories we made in the 50th state. I am particularly thankful for the many visitors we hosted aboard HEALY. Sharing HEALY’s history and the proud tradition of Coast Guard polar icebreaking is something we all enjoy.
I feel blessed and uplifted looking back on the camaraderie and fellowship we shared at the eagles and anchors dinner and luau. This port call raised the crew’s spirits and helped bring us together as a team. We are tanned, rested, and ready as HEALY steams north bound for AWS-16. This week will bring more training as we continue to prepare for the arctic challenges that loom on the horizon.
Best Regards,
Captain Jason R. Hamilton
Commanding Officer
USCGC HEALY (WAGB 20)