The Coast Guard, Fire Department, and Ocean Safety Division will run a two-day, search, rescue and communication training drill at Kapi'olani Park on Monday and along the reef at Diamond Head on Wednesday.

The purpose is for the agencies to improve their abilities and readiness for mass rescue operations and to make first responders more prepared to react to any kind of disaster in Hawai'i's waters, the Coast Guard said.

"The knowledge we gain from this exercise will improve our coordinated operations and help keep the Pacific safe for all mariners," said Coast Guard Lt. James Garland. "This opportunity is important to both the Coast Guard and its partner agencies, as it allows each agency to interact with one another in a realistic rescue scenario."

This full-scale exercise will involve county and federal agencies. All agencies will conduct the communications check portion of the event Monday morning at Kapi'olani Park in preparation for the large-scale event Wednesday off the reef of Diamond Head. The exercise will last six hours each day.

The Coast Guard will make regular broadcasts to keep mariners in the area informed during the exercise.

During the drill, the Coast Guard will communicate on VHF-FM channel 23A and all transmissions will include the phrase, "This is a drill, this is a drill." No transmissions related to the drill will be made on the maritime distress VHF-FM channel 16.