Daniel Volpe officially sworn in as Hawaiʻi County fire chief
Last month the Fire Commission selected Volpe over five other finalists, citing the strong job he had done as temporary chief following the unexpected death of Kazuo Todd in December.
During a ceremony on Thursday, Daniel Volpe was sworn in by Mayor Kimo Alameda as the permanent fire chief of Hawaiʻi County.
Volpe had been serving as temporary fire chief since January after the unexpected death on Dec. 15, 2025, of Kazuo Todd at just 45.
After a long process, the Hawaiʻi County Fire Commission voted 5-1 on Oct. 22 to select Volpe as the permanent chief out of six finalists, which included three other internal candidates.
“On behalf of the people of the County of Hawaiʻi, we congratulate Daniel Volpe on his appointment and thank him for his strong commitment to protecting public safety and serving our residents with aloha,” Alameda said during the ceremony that also was attended by Volpe’s family members, county officials and Fire Department personnel.
Before the ceremony, the Fire Commission voted to formally appoint Volpe as the permanent chief, which will be effective Nov. 17.
For the past 11 months, Volpe also has been continuing to do his deputy fire chief duties. Volpe will select a new deputy chief.
His tenure with Hawai’i Fire Department spans more than 20 years in a variety of capacities that have included firefighter, fire medical specialist (paramedic) and battalion chief.
He has lived on the Big Island for 23 years, relocating in 2003 from Las Vegas, where he graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Volpe’s job offer as chief was conditional on completion of a pre-employment medical exam and drug screening as well as proof of a valid driver’s license. All were met prior to Thursday’s Fire Commission meeting, according to a county press release.
“Serving the community alongside the dedicated men and women of the Hawaiʻi Fire Department is the greatest privilege I can imagine,” Volpe said following his appointment and swearing in. “I am deeply humbled and will work every day to demonstrate our commitment to taking care of our island.”
Volpe spoke in October about a whiteboard in his office filled with projects. He said he hopes to clear that board and fill critical positions now vacant.
“We’ve got a lot of projects and ongoing initiatives and one of my main goals through this process was being able to continue that,” Volpe said last month. “I want to continue doing the same work that I’ve been doing every day, and hopefully now with some more support like a deputy chief and a few other critical vacancies.”
The Hawaiʻi County Fire Commission had received eight applications for fire chief that met minimum qualifications and residency requirements. Six of those candidates became finalists. Three had ties to Hawaiʻi Fire Department: Melanie Keolanui, a battalion chief overseeing department operations; Garrett Kim, a retired department fire captain; and Stacy Domingo, a battalion chief overseeing department emergency communications.
Keolanui received one vote for chief.
The other two finalists were from California: retired Ventura County, Calif., fire captain Michael Fine and former battalion chief Cole Thompson, who served with Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.
Recordings of the Fire Commission meetings can be found here.
