Council urges Police Commission to use transparent, inclusive vetting for next Honolulu police chief

The Honolulu City Council adopted a resolution urging the Honolulu Police Commission to improve its vetting and selection process for the next chief of police by incorporating transparent procedures and input from both rank-and-file officers and civilian Honolulu Police Department employees.

Council Member Tolba introduced the resolution, asking for a selection process that includes broader stakeholder input and transparency measures. Michael Goloju Jr., president of Bridal Work Hawaii, testified in support and urged the council to define stakeholders to include overpoliced populations and to require disclosure of memoranda of understanding between HPD and federal agencies like ICE and DHS.

Council Member Tupelo said the resolution seeks to restore trust and improve morale after a prior chief-selection process that took nearly two years and left officers uncertain, citing testimony and a recent survey of rank-and-file officers. Tupelo noted the poll found officers want a chief with beat-level experience and clearer evaluation processes. The resolution passed with no recorded objections; the committee record lists CR 298 and Resolution 205-222 CD1 as adopted.

The resolution is advisory to the Police Commission and requests procedural improvements rather than imposing new statutory requirements.