Segawa confirmed 6-3 as director of Hawaiʻi County’s Department of Environmental Management

During a special meeting on Friday, the Hawai‘i County Council confirmed civil engineer Wesley Segawa as the director of the Department of Environmental Management.

The vote was 6-3, with councilmembers Rebecca Villegas, Heather Kimball and Jenn Kagiwada opposing his appointment.

Newly-elected mayor Kimo Alameda appointed nine people to department head positions. Segawa was the only appointment who failed to secure the full support of the council.

The Department of Environmental Management is responsible for a myriad of services, including management of transfer stations, recycling and wastewater. The department has been working to address issues with upgrading wastewater treatment plants and a state requirement to convert large-capacity cesspools to more environmentally friendly systems by 2050.

Segawa’s confirmation vote was delayed from last week over concerns regarding potential conflicts of interest with his engineering consulting firm Wesley R. Segawa and Associates and Project Management Inc., which have existing contracts with the county, and his lack of experience involving wastewater.

Segawa told the council Friday that he’s taken steps to comply with the county’s Board of Ethics and has removed his companies from the Department of Environmental Management’s project eligibility lists.

Before Alameda took office, Segawa’s consulting firm was awarded a $4.4 million contract in June 2024 for construction management services for the reconstruction of lava-inundated road projects, county officials confirmed earlier this month.

His company Project Management Inc. has two pending construction management contracts with the Office of Housing and Community Development for phase one of Kukuiola, a 16-unit homeless shelter in Kona for potentially $40,000, and construction of Kamakoa Nui Mini Loop Road in Waikōloa. The cost of the road project has not been negotiated.

County officials say these contracts, which started during the last administration, have not been executed.

Segawa said he’s prepared a petition to the Board of Ethics for appropriate action regarding the projects.

Alameda said public safety is a priority for his administration.

“This wastewater situation is an unsafe situation,” the mayor said. “I hired him (Segawa) because of his knowledge, compassion and passion for our island.”

Alameda said Segawa has provided good insight and already identified three places where pumps could rupture at the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant in Keaukaha, which could result in a massive sewage spill.

Alameda told the council he is drafting an emergency proclamation to Gov. Josh Green so the county can move quickly to fix problems at the plant. He plans to get that request to the governor’s desk next week.

“I know the mayor has a tough job,” Kagiwada said. “This is tough position to fill.”

However, Kagiwada told Segawa in the Friday meeting that he never shared with her any ideas in their previous conversations about what direction the county should go in with regard to solid waste and wastewater management. During the meeting, she asked him to once again share an innovative idea he had to tackle these issues.

Segawa did not have an answer, instead saying: “I need to get my staffing level up. I need to get qualified people on board to get these innovative ideas.”

The Department of Environmental Management has 228 positions with 43 vacancies.

Segawa said if sees something innovative, he’ll act on it.

Galimba was on the fence about Segawa’s appointment but ultimately chose to support it.

“You are a lovely person and have a lot of experience around engineering,” she said. “I think you will bring some new skills and capabilities to this position. We need to catch up on a lot.”

During public testimony, community members opposing Segawa’s appointment mentioned legal action taken against the civil engineer 20 years ago.

In 2004, Segawa was charged with money laundering, a class C felony, and contributing money to Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris’ campaign under false names while in the position of chairman for the state’s public housing agency.

According to a Dec. 28, 2004, article published by the Honolulu Advertiser, Segawa contributed more than $60,000 to the Harris campaign from 1998 to 2000, donating money under names of friends and relatives. The campaign limit was $4,000.

“This is a problem, guys,” one testifier stated to the council. “You’re supposed to represent us and look out for this kind of behavior. He does seem like a pleasant man and I wish him well, but this does feel inappropriate.”

Segawa told the council: “I made a foolish and painful mistake over 20 years ago. The court granted me my plea of no contest, and I fulfilled all my legal and financial obligations with the court order.”

Segawa’s record has since been expunged.

Segawa publicly apologized to friends, relatives and family for the “shame, embarrassment and betrayal of trust” he brought upon them more than two decades ago.

“I’ve followed the campaign spending laws ever since, and I hold myself accountable for my actions,” he said, adding he didn’t contribute to Alameda’s campaign.

Councilmember Ashley Kierkiewicz told Segawa that he has shown “incredible remorse” for the mistake he made 20 years and the shame he still feels.

“In spite of that mistake, you’ve built a successful and respectful business,” Kierkiewicz said. “You’ve paid your debt to society and I don’t want you to do that again.”

Kierkiewicz also appreciated Segawa’s explanation on how he would handle potential conflicts of interest.

Kierkiewicz said that Segawa has demonstrated his commitment to collaboration and action on addressing wastewater issues.

“I think that Mayor Alameda has made an excellent choice in someone like you, someone that has years of experience of managing projects and getting things done,” the councilwoman said. “Please see me and other members of this council as a resource. We want you to be successful.”

Joining Kierkiewicz to approve Segawa were councilmembers Michelle Galimba, James Hustace, Holeka Inaba, Matt Kaneali‘i-Kleinfelder and Dennis “Fresh” Onishi.

Villegas voted no, saying she was disturbed by Segawa’s now expunged record.

“I appreciate, and I am a firm believer in apologies and forgiveness,” Villegas said. “But it doesn’t change the need for us to eliminate any and all business and going ons, especially in government, where putting people in positions or paying money in order to get contracts is perceived as any kind of a norm.”

Villegas also was disappointed in Segawa’s lack of information about West Hawai‘i wastewater projects, including installing a sewer line by Kahalu‘u Beach Park along Ali‘i Drive and upgrades to the Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant.

“For the sake of integrity and accountability for the severity of what happened 20 years ago and the message that sends to the public, I have to today not approve of your nomination for this position,” Villegas said.

However, seeing that Segawa was going to be appointed, Villegas encouraged him to do the “deep dive” into the information gathered on these West Hawai‘i projects by the previous administration.

“We have a lot of work to do,” Villegas said. “We must move forward with these projects for the health and safety of our community.”