In the remainder of August through early November, Kawakaze participated in ten "Tokyo Express" high speed transport runs or surface attack missions to Guadalcanal, as well as participating briefly in the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands on 26 October under Admiral Nobutake Kondō. During the First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal on the night of 12–13 November 1942, Kawakaze rescued 550 survivors from the torpedoed transport Brisbane Maru. For the rest of the month, Kawakaze patrolled between Shortland Island, Buna and Rabaul.
In late August through early November, Kawakaze carried out ten "Tokyo Express" high-speed transport runs or surface attack missions to Guadalcanal and participated in the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands on 26 October under Admiral Nobutake Kondō. On the night of 12–13 November 1942, Kawakaze rescued 550 survivors from the torpedoed transport Brisbane Maru. For the remainder of the month, Kawakaze patrolled between Shortland Island, Buna and Rabaul.