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September 15, 2025
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Hawaii County Council
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Committee on Governmental Operations and ExternatAffairs
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25 Aupuni Street
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Re: Testimony Opposing Bill64, Draft 2— Director of Public Works Qualifications
Chair Kagiwada, Vice Chair Kaneali'i-Kleinfelder, and Members of the Committee:
On behalf of the Hawai'i Society of Professional Engineers (HSPE), I respectfully submit
testimony in opposition to Bill 64, Draft 2. This measure would amend the County Charter
to remove the requirement that the Director of Public Works be a licensed Professional
Engineer (PE) and instead shift the licensure requirement to the Deputy Director.
The Department of Public Works oversees infrastructure that directly affects public safety,
including roads, bridges,,water systems, and public facilities. These responsibilities
demand technical judgment, adherence to professional standards, and an ethical
obligation to protect the public's health, safety, and welfare. A Professional Engineer
License is the public's assurance that the individual leading this department meets those
standards of competency and accountability.
It has been suggested that the PE requirement makes it difficult to recruit qualified
candidates. The facts do not support this. According to the National Council of Examiners
for Engineering and Surveying's Squared 2024 report, civil engineering remains the largest
discipline for licensure nationwide, with thousands of new engineers enteringthe
profession each year. Here in Hawaii, nearly 6,000 Professional Engineers hold active
Licenses, including more than 3,100 resident licensees, which demonstrates that there is a
substantial pool of talent available to fill this role.
Another argument is that engineers are slow to act or inclined to say no. In reality,
Professional Engineers are legally and ethically bound to ensure safe and sustainable
solutions. When engineering judgment has been overridden, the results have been
disastrous, including the Challenger disaster, the levee failures in New Orleans, the Miami
pedestrian bridge collapse in 2018, and the Berkman Plaza parking garage collapse in
2007. Engineering oversight exists to prevent costly mistakes and protect the public, not to
obstruct progress.
Comm. 1 , )
Ref. To:
Ref. Date
Shifting the PE requirement to the Deputy Director does not resolve these concerns. The
Deputy does not have ultimate authority over budgets, staffing, or project approvals. That
responsibility rests with the Director, and it should remain in the hands of a licensed
Professional Engineer.
Forthese reasons, HSPE strongly urges the Committee to reject Bill 64, Draft 2, and
preserve the Professional Engineer requirement for the Director of Public Works.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
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Michael Silva PE, FNSPE, LS, LEED AP
President
Hawaii Society of Professional Engineers
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