Hilo Agencies to Conduct Training Drill Friday

Emergency personnel will perform a joint safety exercise at Hilo Benioff Medical Center on October 16.

Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Safety

A safety-orange rescue vehicle parked on a dark volcanic road surrounded by lush Hilo rainforest foliage under an overcast sky. — Hawai'i Island police and fire departments will hold a joint emergency training drill on October 16 at Hilo Benioff Medical Center. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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First responders and hospital staff will participate in a joint safety exercise on Friday, October 16, 2026, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The training will span areas from Rainbow Falls to Hilo Benioff Medical Center.

Why it matters

The drill aims to enhance interagency coordination, communication, and readiness among local response teams for potential critical incidents. Hospital operations and patient services will remain unaffected during the exercise.

The exercise runs from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will feature a BearCat armored vehicle, a Crisis Negotiation Team vehicle, police units, fire department SUVs, and an ambulance.

The players

Hilo Benioff Medical Center

This facility is the primary regional hospital serving the Hilo community and will serve as the host site for the training.

Hawai'i Fire Department

This county agency provides fire protection and emergency medical services across the Big Island and is participating in the exercise.

Hawai'i Island police

The local law enforcement agency is coordinating with fire and hospital staff to improve interagency readiness for critical incidents.

The details

Hawai'i Island police and Hawai'i Fire Department personnel are collaborating on this interagency drill. Residents should expect an increased presence of emergency vehicles in the region between Wailuku River State Park's Rainbow Falls and the medical center.

The training exercise occurs on Friday, October 16, 2026, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Seasonal Patterns

This coordinated drill follows the operational standards established by the National Incident Management System (NIMS) to ensure local agencies can effectively respond to complex emergency events.

Residents should be aware of the increased presence of police and fire vehicles between Rainbow Falls and the medical center during the six-hour window. No public services or hospital patient operations will be disrupted by the activity.

The takeaway

Large-scale interagency exercises are essential for maintaining public safety readiness in the region. Residents are encouraged to remain aware of their surroundings if they encounter emergency equipment during the training timeframe.