 After the attack , ROTC cadets from the University of Hawaii were assigned to active duty guarding strategic buildings . Because of the island 's lack of fresh water and electric power to the dispensary , a temporary hospital had to be set up at the # 2 barracks . The island 's gasoline tank was emptied and refilled with water ; trenches were dug , and buildings camouflaged . Its runway was cleared of over three tons of scrap metal in two hours . The Marines who had picked up rifles for guard duty were tasked with feeding and clothing the soldiers and sailors . Twenty prisoners from the island 's brig were marched to the Marine barracks and put to work without incident ; some received commuted sentences for their efforts . That evening , Hawaiians were instructed to observe an indoor blackout , stay off the telephone , keep extra buckets of water available for fighting fires and keep cars off the streets ( parking them on lawns , if necessary ) . 
