2026-01-30 Police Commission Regular Minutes

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Hawaii Police Commission Regular Session Minutes January 30, 2026 Page 8 one candidate clearly stood out and exceeded the qualifications. She recommended Interim Chief Mahuna. Commissioner Fischer, attending his first meeting as a new Commissioner, noted that he was not part of the earlier stages of the process but reviewed all material, such as applications, resumes, questionnaires, and testimony, and found the interviews particularly impactful. He stated that all candidates interviewed well, but that two internal candidates clearly stood out, and that Kenneth Quiocho's interview in particular made a strong impression. He valued candidates who took clear positions on difficult questions rather than remaining neutral, and felt that Quiocho did so and stood strong in his responses. He emphasized the importance of recruitment, retention, and officer wellness, and said that, following the early departure of the prior chief, the department needs a leader who will not treat the role as a stepping stone. He stressed that officers are the backbone of the department and that promoting from within demonstrates that advancement is achievable through hard work and integrity. He stated that both internal candidates would be outstanding chiefs. Commissioner Lacerte addressed Ms. Moser's earlier question by explaining that the Commissioners are prohibited from discussing Commission business outside of official meetings, which is why they must wait for the next meeting to act on background results and why none of them knew each other's preferences before this discussion. She described her own process, which included creating a spreadsheet to compare qualifications, incorporating extensive community input from her district, and weighing the interviews as a third key factor. Based on that, she stated that her vote is for Reed Mahuna, noting that this conclusion was reached independently and without prior discussion with other Commissioners. Chair Yamada stated that all candidates performed well, and there were three candidates he believed would be suitable as Chief. He identified Anthony Kumamaru as his first recommendation, stating that Kumamaru's resume and plans speak for themselves. His second recommendation was Interim Chief Reed Mahuna, noting that Mahuna's current position in the department reflects his accomplishments and that written and oral testimony in his favor was overwhelming. Chair Yamada added that, despite trying to remain neutral, his 28-plus-year career as a police officer inevitably influences his thinking, and that people naturally tend toward comfort. However, he said he believes discomfort can lead to growth and that a third candidate, Kenneth Quiocho, challenges him in that way. He remarked that one recommendation described Quiocho as "not everybody's cup of tea," but that his qualifications are, in Chair Yamada's view, undeniable. He stated that these three: Kumamaru, Mahuna, and Quiocho, were his recommendations.