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DHHL enforcement unit seeks more staff, cites drones and interagency help in recent removals
Summary
David Hoke, enforcement unit administrator, told the Hawaiian Homes Commission the unit handled dozens of investigations and removals this month and is pressing for additional staff, legal-assistant support and mediation resources to manage rising workload.
David Hoke, administrator for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands enforcement unit, told the Hawaiian Homes Commission on Sept. 16 that his four-person team handled 17 investigation requests in a recent reporting window and completed site work including a commercial eviction and removal of unauthorized occupants.
“We did our first site visit with Mike Lambert from the Department of Law Enforcement to go install those high-tech traffic cameras,” Hoke said, and described collaboration with Lambert’s office on a commercial eviction in Mapunapuna and a removal of squatters from a vacant home in Waianae Valley. Hoke said those responses were timelier because of the sheriff’s department assistance.
Hoke told commissioners the enforcement unit submitted 29 reports in the period cited and has carried out beneficiary outreach, contested-case preparations and interagency coordination. He said the unit is leveraging a new capability — unmanned aircraft — to locate homeless encampments and “cut down on the amount of time it takes us to locate these camps.” Hoke said a staff member received licensing to operate drones, which he described as a “game changer.”
Commissioners asked about staffing and training needs. Hoke said the enforcement unit has four investigators and one vacancy; the unit also has a single legal assistant who handles notices of violations and contested-case work. “We do only have one legal assistant, and that is another avenue that we really have to focus on,” Hoke said, adding that the department is recruiting and will continue to ask the Legislature for positions.
Asked what ideal staffing would look like, Hoke recommended two investigators per district, three legal assistants systemwide and dedicated support staff to handle travel and mailings. Commissioners and Hoke also discussed using retired law-enforcement personnel on renewals of short-term assignments to bring experienced staff into the unit for operational continuity.
Hoke said the unit is encouraging neighborhood-watch–style “NSW” programs and partnerships with homestead associations to act as local points of contact, since the unit cannot rely solely on adding head count. He also urged the commission to consider neutral mediation resources so neighbors with lease disputes can reach agreement without contested hearings.
Chair Carly Watson and others thanked Hoke and staff for the month’s results; Hoke said staffing and funding requests have been submitted to the administration and the Legislature but that approvals are beyond the department’s control.
Ending: Commissioners urged continued outreach to associations and offered to participate in ride-alongs so they could see enforcement work in the field.
