Hawai'i's first C-17 cargo aircraft was scratched from a mudslide relief mission to the Philippines because of a malfunction, the Air Force said yesterday.

The brand new aircraft was scheduled to fly to the Philippines over the weekend.

A Mainland-based C-17 was re-loaded with 30,000 pounds of tents, cots, military prepackaged meals or MREs, and water, and was expected to leave last night with Hickam and Hawai'i Air National Guard crew members.

"This is such an important mission for us here at Hickam, especially with the strong relationship and friendship we have with the Filipino community," said 1st Lt. Craig Savage, a Hickam spokesman. "So we're really looking forward to getting this launched and getting down there."

Friday's mudslides in South Leyte Province killed up to 1,000 people.

Maj. Eric Hilliard, a spokesman for Pacific Air Forces, said there was an equipment malfunction with Hawai'i's first C-17, called "Spirit of Hawai'i — Ke Aloha." The $200 million aircraft, the first of eight being based at Hickam, arrived here Feb. 8.

"Something didn't check out on the checklist," Hilliard said. "By tech order, they are not allowed to fly unless (there is an) 'all lights are green' type of thing."

Humanitarian relief has always been cited as an important benefit of having the versatile airlifters in Hawai'i. The Hickam squadron is the first based outside the Mainland.

The C-17s will be flown and maintained by the active duty Air Force and Hawai'i Air National Guard in a relatively new partnering arrangement.

The crew flying out of Hawai'i with a C-17 from Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., was expected to include both Hickam active duty people and Air Guard. A 10-member Hickam team to load and unload relief supplies also was slated to fly on the flight that will head first to Guam — to pick up more cargo — and then the Philippines.

Hawai'i's second C-17 Globemaster III is scheduled to fly in to Hickam today from Long Beach, Calif., for a 12:45 p.m. dedication and Hawaiian blessing.

Marine Forces Pacific at Camp Smith said about 150 Marines were digging alongside Philippine armed forces while two Marine Corps KC-130s and three Air Force C-130s fly relief flights between Clark Air Force Base and Tacloban Airbase, the primary staging point for relief supplies.

The ships USS Essex and USS Harper's Ferry, with 17 helicopters and 1,000 Marines, previously had been diverted to the Philippines. The Pentagon said 6,000 U.S. troops participating in annual "Balikatan" military exercises were available to help.

Lt. Col. Jeff Blau, a spokesman for Marine Forces Pacific, yesterday said the Marine operations remain essentially the same.

"They are working side by side with their Philippine counterparts and nongovernmental organizations and rescue organizations, looking for survivors and then recovering victims," Blau said.

Reach William Cole at wcole@honoluluadvertiser.com.