Hawai‘i County officials to hold community meeting to discuss temporary morgue facility

The public is invited to attend a community meeting tonight to discuss a temporary morgue facility in Hilo.

The meeting is from 5 to 6 p.m. at the Aupuni Center Conference Room, located on 101 Pauahi Street, and is part of Hawai‘i County’s ongoing efforts to address the overcrowded morgue facilities at the Hilo Benioff Medical Center and Kona Community Hospital.

Per state statutes, the police chief is the coroner for the county and the police department has the responsibility to collect and transport bodies involved in coroner’s inquests and criminal investigations to a secure location until a mortuary is able to collect them.

In the past, the department has relied on morgue facilities at the two hospitals, however, both facilities are facing overcapacity issues, according to a press release from Hawai‘i Island police. For several months, the police department and other county agencies have been working to chart a long-term solution of building a permanent morgue facility on island while simultaneously creating a temporary facility at 540 Kupuna Place in Hilo.

Monday’s public meeting will feature speakers from various County departments, including the Police Department and Public Works.

For questions regarding this public meeting, call Assistant Chief Sherry Bird at 808-961-2261 or email at Sherry.Bird@hawaiicounty.gov.