HI-EMA head seeks to restore confidence

The new interim head of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency has taken over, but Brig. Gen. Moses Kaoiwi said ballistic missile alert drills will stay on hiatus until he is assured that the department has a new action plan and the proper resources to move forward.

Kaiowi’s first days on the job so far have been centered on restoring public faith in HI-EMA. He’s also assisting in the search to fill the agency’s top leadership slots left vacant by the Jan. 26 resignations of retired Maj. Gen. Vern Miyagi, HI-EMA’s former administrator, and of Toby Clairmont, former HI-EMA executive officer.

“We’ve got job vacancies out for the administrator and executive officer. While the (administrator) job is attractive … I have no plans, at this point, to apply,” said Kaoiwi, whose extensive emergency preparedness background includes his National Guard career and a stint as a Big Island police officer from 1990 to 2003.

Brig. Gen. Bruce Oliveira issued an internal report with about 23 recommendations Jan. 30, but Kaoiwi said he plans to wait for findings from Brig. Gen. Kenneth Hara, state deputy adjutant general, before making changes or directing staff to resume ballistic missile alert drills.

“I don’t want to try and make specific changes until we get a good comprehensive review,” said Kaoiwi, who took over Jan. 30. “It’s not just, ‘OK, now you can do drills.’ You have to see what the recommendations say. It may involve new systems, new training — areas that we may or may not have.”

Kaoiwi said even though ballistic missile alert drills are currently suspended, he’s confident in the agency’s ability to respond should a real threat occur.

“Nothing changes as far as our ability to respond. The way it’s set up at this point, warning officers are pretty astute,” he said. “We could still execute even if we aren’t doing the drills. … They are pretty much capable of responding should a real-world event occur. My hope is that diplomacy prevails.”

During his first week on the job, Kaoiwi also represented HI-EMA at a legislative hearing called by the Senate Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs.

Kaiowi said the agency supported SB 3083, a bill that protects a private property owner from civil liability for injury or damage in certain cases if they have provided free emergency access to land, shelter or subsistence during a disaster.

State Sen. Clarence Nishihara (D, Pearl City-Waipahu), committee chairman, said the legislation, which was advanced to the Senate Judiciary Committee, is intended to encourage the private sector to assist their communities during emergencies or disasters.

“I’m sure this bill had something to do with people being turned away during the false ballistic missile alert. It was pretty clear that the business community didn’t know exactly what to do,” Nishihara said.

In some cases there were conflicting reports from employees and employers about how they handled the situation, he said.

Various news organizations reported Pearl City Walmart, the 24-Hour Fitness on Kapiolani Boulevard and the U-Haul on Nimitz Highway were among the businesses that refused to shelter customers during the crisis.

Unite Here Local 5 and the Hawaii Hotel and Lodging Association said some visitor industry businesses were unprepared to handle the alert.

“We’re the only state that is doing these alerts. We need to assist more businesses in being ready,” Nishihara said.

>> For the Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s full coverage of Hawaii’s missile alert scare, go to 808ne.ws/Hawaiimissilescare.