New Chief Reed Mahuna pledges trust, safety, respect between police, community

Hawaiʻi Police Department’s new chief on Friday (March 6) pledged to wear the uniform with humility, treat every person with aloha, own his kuleana, stand firm in pono and seek lōkahi with partners, his department and the community.

Reed Mahuna expressed immense gratitude as he was sworn in publicly as 13th chief of Hawaiʻi Police Department during a ceremony attended by state and county dignitaries, family and friends, community members and the officers from around the island he will lead.

Mahuna pledged that the department would work hard to earn community trust and take accountability when needed while remaining grounded in the unique culture, history and values of Hawaiʻi.

“We cannot sit and wait for trust; we have to go out and earn it every day, in every district on every shift,” said the new police chief in his remarks during Friday’s ceremony. “We are stepping into a chapter where the public is watching the police more than ever, but that scrutiny should be welcomed.”

“It is an opportunity to show that through our actions, we welcome accountability and we are willing to change when change is needed,” Mahuna added.

Hawaiʻi County Police Commission Vice Chairperson Wendy Botelho also spoke about how strengthening the relationship between the county’s police force and community enhances public safety.

“Officers must have the resources, training and support to do this job while promoting transparency, accountability and trust to the public,” Botelho said in her remarks during the ceremony. “Public safety is not just response; it is about prevention and partnership to create a community where everyone feels safe, respected and protected.”

Botelho was one of the nine Hawaiʻi County Police Commission members who selected Mahuna as the county’s next police chief.

The nearly-30-year Big Island law enforcement veteran beat out more than 40 original candidates and then a strong field of eight finalists to be selected as the county’s next top cop.

“Your leadership, professionalism and commitment are highly valued. Policing is not an easy job; it is not a job you can just let go of at night,” Botelho said about Mahuna. “Your dedication to the people of Hawaiʻi will help families feel safe in their neighborhoods. When families feel secure, businesses grow, schools thrive and people are proud to call their community home.”

Mahuna’s vision for Hawaiʻi Police Department is guided by four main values — aloha, kuleana, pono and lōkahi.

“Aloha means compassionate, respectful service to all, because everyone deserves our best. Kuleana is our responsibility to our community and to one another,” he said. “Pono means doing what is right, especially when it is difficult or unpopular. Lōkahi is unity through collaboration, understanding we cannot succeed if we do this alone.”

Mahuna, through those values, plans to make Hawaiʻi Police Department “second to none” in terms of fighting crime, fully engaging and responding to the needs of the community and embracing the future.

He will focus on officer retention and work toward giving Hawaiʻi County’s police force the best tools to do their job, such as modern field-based reporting methods, efficient 9-1-1 systems and strong cybercrime capabilities.

“Technology alone will not build trust, which is why the department will invest in programs that bring us closer to the community,” Mahuna said. “Retired officer ambassadors serving as bridges in neighborhoods and communities, a citizens academy to show the community who we are and how we work and youth programs like internships and summer camps, so young people can see policing as a path of service and pride.”

The new chief also will prioritize officer wellness as a necessity — not a luxury — because healthy, supported officers are better decision-makers, partners and guardians for this island.

His vision for Hawaiʻi Police Department is simple, but will need everyone’s involvement to work. It will demand the police and community to stand together in trust, safety and mutual respect.

Hawaiʻi County Council Chairperson Holeka Inaba also expressed appreciation during Friday’s ceremony for Mahuna’s appointment of Assistant Police Chief Sherry Bird, who is the first woman to achieve the title in Hawaiʻi Police Department history.

“One thing that has stood out to me was your decision to appoint Assistant Police Chief Sherry Bird, who offers years of experience and needed perspective from West Hawaiʻi,” said Inaba. “The decision shows great foresight, and I think we can all agree that we will be in good hands under your leadership working together because we all know that good leaders need a good team.”

Mahuna pledged to build a safer, more hopeful future for the Big Island and lead as a public servant first.

“I will not get everything right and I will not be able to do this alone,” he said. “I can promise you that I will listen, I will learn and I will lead with the heart of a public servant, where the highest reward is hearing someone say, ‘Thank you for making my life better.'”