Hara takes command of famed Guard unit

With rain clouds above and an uncertain overseas duty schedule ahead, Col. Kenneth Hara assumed command of the Hawaii Army National Guard’s storied 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team on Sunday at the Kapolei High School football field.

Hara, 42, replaced Col. Keith Tamashiro, who headed the brigade since June 2010.

"It’s very exciting," Hara said of his new post. "I’m looking forward to commanding the more than 3,000 soldiers we have in Hawaii, Arizona and Guam."

The ceremony, attended by some 200 invited guests and other well-wishers, got under way amid a sustained midday shower. Joining Hara and Tamashiro on the dais was Hara’s older brother, Brig. Gen. Gary Hara, commander of the Hawaii Army National Guard.

In fact, the Hara family’s ties to the Guard are strong. Hara’s father, the late Lt. Col. Henry Hara, was a full-time National Guard soldier for four decades, including 13 years as leader of the 2nd Battalion, 299th Infantry. Hara’s two other brothers — Sgt. Maj. Dennis Hara and Sgt. 1st Class Larry Hara — also serve in the National Guard, as did one of his uncles.

"We looked up to my dad and uncle and what they did," Hara said. "I think what the Hara family has always respected about the National Guard is that in addition to serving military missions abroad, we also take care of our home state and our community."

Hara, who was commissioned a lieutenant of infantry in 1987 via the Officer Candidate School program at the Hawaii Military Academy, holds a bachelor’s degree in human services from Hawaii Pacific University and a master’s in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College. During his 15 years as deputy commander of the 29th Brigade, Hara served on deployments in Iraq and Kuwait.

In Hawaii, Hara served as assistant operations officer with the 2nd Battalion, 299th Infantry, helping to coordinate and mobilize aid in the aftermath of Hurricane Iniki in 1992. He also served as Task Force KOA commander of Hawaii Army and Air National Guard soldiers and airmen following the October 2006 earthquake.

Hara said the uncertain future of the brigade is likely to be the biggest challenge of the coming year.

For more than a year, Hara has watched as deployment plans for his brigade have been changed dramatically and repeatedly. Current plans call for a October deployment to Afghanistan, but the dynamic nature of operations leaves that in doubt.

Regardless of what happens, Hara’s predecessor expressed confidence that Hara is the right person for the job.

"National Guardsmen have to balance military service, their civilian jobs, family and community so they’re pretty flexible and they adapt well," Tamashiro said. "Col. Hara is the perfect guy for this job because he’s technically and tactically proficient, he has outstanding communication skills and he’s compassionate but disciplined."