Department of Water Supply manager-chief engineer to retire next month

After 30 years of service with the County of Hawaiʻi Department of Water Supply, including 11 years as manager-chief engineer, Keith K. Okamoto, P.E., has announced his retirement.

Okamoto joined the Department of Water Supply in 1996 and progressed through several engineering and leadership positions before becoming manager-chief engineer in 2015. His last day of work will be Nov. 30, 2026.

During his career, he has helped lead one of Hawaiʻi’s largest municipal water utilities, overseeing more than 150 employees, approximately 48,000 customer accounts, and 23 public water systems serving communities throughout Hawaiʻi Island.

Reflecting on his retirement, Okamoto said his greatest appreciation is for the people with whom he has had the opportunity to work.

“It has been an honor and privilege to serve alongside our dedicated team at the Department of Water Supply,” Okamoto said. “Together, we have provided a vital service to the people and communities of Hawaiʻi Island. I am deeply grateful for the commitment and dedication of our employees, who work every day to ensure that our customers have safe, reliable drinking water.”

During his tenure as manager-chief engineer, Okamoto guided the department through significant challenges, infrastructure needs, and numerous emergencies, including the 2018 Kīlauea eruption, the COVID-19 pandemic, drought, Kona Low flooding, earthquakes, and Hurricanes Lāla and Nolo in 2026.

Through these challenges, he and Department of Water Supply employees worked to maintain continuity of operations and reliable delivery of safe drinking water. Among the major projects and initiatives during his tenure was the recovery and rebuilding of water infrastructure following the 2018 Kīlauea eruption in lower Puna.

The department secured more than $40 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance funding to restore and strengthen critical water infrastructure. Okamoto also helped secure nearly $9 million in State of Hawaiʻi legislative appropriations for the Lālāmilo 10-million-gallon reservoir project, which will be the largest potable drinking water storage reservoir in the state.

The project will strengthen long-term water system reliability and drought resilience while helping reduce costs for Department of Water Supply customers.

Looking beyond immediate needs, Okamoto placed a strong emphasis on long-term planning, infrastructure investment, and organizational sustainability. During his tenure, the department advanced a 20-year capital improvement strategy valued at approximately $329 million, initiated an update of its Strategic and Business Plan using the Environmental Protection Agency and American Water Works Association’s Effective Utility Management framework, and secured significant state and federal funding for critical water system improvements.

“Water is something most people don’t think about until they open the tap, and nothing comes out,” Okamoto said. “That is why the work of the department is so important. Our responsibility is not simply to operate water systems today, but to plan and invest for the needs of future generations.”

As he prepares to retire, Okamoto said he is confident in the people who will carry the department forward.

“I leave knowing that the department has a talented and dedicated workforce and a strong foundation for the future,” Okamoto said. “There will always be challenges facing a public water utility, but I know the men and women of the Department of Water Supply will continue to meet those challenges with professionalism, dedication, and a commitment to the communities we serve.”

Okamoto expressed his appreciation to the Water Board, county leadership, employees, customers, regulatory and legislative partners, and the many community organizations and individuals with whom he has worked throughout his career.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to have served the people of Hawaiʻi Island and to have been part of something that is so important to our communities,” Okamoto said. “Water infrastructure can last for generations, and what we do today can affect our communities for decades. I am proud of the work we have accomplished together and grateful for the friendships and relationships that have made this career so meaningful.”

Information regarding interim and permanent leadership of the Department of Water Supply will be announced at a later date.