Maui Mayor Richard Bissen announced Friday that Amos Lonokailua-Hewett will lead the Maui Emergency Management Agency.

What You Need To Know

  • Amos Lonokailua-Hewett is a former fire battalion chief with 25 years of experience at the Maui Fire Department

  • Former MEMA administrator Herman Andaya faced criticism for not activating emergency sirens at the onset of the Aug. 8, 2023, wildfire. He resigned 10 days after the fire

  • At the end of August, Darrly Oliveira was appointed to be an interim administrator 

  • Oliveira and Lonokailua-Hewett both have more emergency management experience than their predecessor Andaya, which was part of the criticism that the latter faced

He is a former fire battalion chief with 25 years of experience at the Maui Fire Department, according to a Maui County news release. He retired in 2019. 

Former MEMA administrator Herman Andaya faced criticism for deciding not to activate emergency sirens at the onset of the Aug. 8, 2023, wildfire that destroyed Lahaina. Less than 10 days after the fire, he resigned, citing “health reasons.” 

At the end of August, Bissen announced former Hawaii Fire Department chief and Hawaii County Civil Defense Administrator Darryl Oliveira would serve as an interim administrator.

Oliveira and Lonokailua-Hewett both have more emergency management experience than their predecessor Andaya, which was part of the criticism that the latter faced.   

Lonokailua-Hewett, who was born on Oahu and raised on Maui, was the head of the MFD training division, where he created the Fire Ground Operations program in 2010. He served nine years as the HFD’s program director, developing the department’s “live fire” program. He was also the program director for the State of Hawaii’s Blue Card program for eight years, providing incident command and control certification for fire officers. 

In 2017, Lonokailua-Hewett earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Fire Administration and a Master’s degree in Public Administration with an emphasis on Emergency Services Management in 2019 from Columbia Southern University. 

He is currently the president of Waihona Emergency & Training Consultants LLC.

“Amos is deeply committed to our community’s well-being,” said Bissen. “His extensive history with the Maui Fire Department and the emergency management profession, combined with his experience with our Maui County emergency operating center, will contribute greatly to strengthening our emergency management efforts. Our County will benefit from his leadership, expertise and professionalism. I look forward to having him return to public service as a key member of our team.”

Michelle Broder Van Dyke covers the Hawaiian Islands for Spectrum News Hawaii. Email her at michelle.brodervandyke@charter.com.

Related Stories