Initially the Coast Guard established a base on the Hawaiian Archipelago in 1945, with a pair of PBY-5 Catalinas and one Grumman G-21 Goose.

For 24 years the Sikorsky HH-52 Seaguard was the primary search-and-rescue helicopter, unit 1987 when it was retired and replaced with the Aérospatiale HH-65 Dolphin.

Currently, AIRSTA Barbers Point has four HC-130J Super Hercules in use, configured primarily as a long-range search and rescue, maritime law endorcement, and logistical support aircraft.

[3] Today 250 officers and enlisted personnel maintain a continuous service for the Fourteenth Coast Guard District.

Duties include aviation mission support for Search and Rescue, Marine Environmental Protection, Maritime Law Enforcement and Aids to Navigation.