Committee recommends first reading to add MEMA vehicles to county emergency-vehicle code

The Disaster Recovery International Affairs and Planning Committee of the Maui County Council voted unanimously to recommend first reading of Bill 82-2025, a measure that would amend Maui County Code Section 10.04.03 to add vehicles used by the Maui Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) to the county's definition of "authorized emergency vehicle."

The change would allow MEMA vehicles to use emergency lighting and sirens, and to operate under the same traffic privileges as police, fire and ambulance vehicles when responding to incidents. Committee member Tom Cook moved the main motion and Member Lee seconded; Cook also moved the substitution to a CD1 clean-up version, which the committee approved unanimously before passing the amended main motion.

Committee members said the amendment is intended to improve response in isolated communities such as East Maui, Moloka‘i and Lāna‘i. Lono Kailua Hewitt, Administrator, Maui Emergency Management Agency, told the committee MEMA staff specialists are used to “link up with incident commanders” in the field and provide strategic situational awareness and connectivity to the county Emergency Operations Center. Hewitt said the agency's specialists would not assume command on scene: “The command always stays with the police department or the fire department.”

Hewitt described operational details the county expects to use with the new authority: marked county vehicles equipped with light bars, sirens, mobile radios and PA systems; smaller 4x4 vehicles for limited-access roads; and additional connectivity tools for isolated islands. She identified two recently acquired vehicles as 2025 Chevrolet Colorado crew cabs that will be outfitted for emergency response and said isolated-community vehicles will include Starlink or similar satellite connectivity to bolster communications where cell service may be limited.

Council members pressed on training, insurance and placement. Hewitt said MEMA will require certification and refresher training for vehicle operators, proposing quarterly training and development of a formal policy; she did not provide a finalized insurance or procurement plan and said those items remain to be resolved. On current assets, Hewitt stated the agency has six vehicles total, with three assigned to isolated communities and three for the rest of Maui. She said supply-chain delays have pushed the agency's move to its new EOC to an estimated January timeline and that MEMA plans parking at the back of the Telecom building for some vehicles.

Public testimony on the item was limited to one speaker. JC Law of Kula Oka thanked MEMA staff for outreach and said he hopes he never needs their services but appreciated their presence.

The committee record notes the proposed CD1 version contains "non-substantive revisions for clarity, consistency, and style." The committee voted to substitute in the CD1 and to recommend first reading as amended; members raised no recorded objections at the committee level. The committee also closed oral testimony and accepted written testimony into the record prior to action.

The bill now proceeds toward first reading on the full council agenda, subject to regular scheduling and any further amendments or requests from administration or legal staff.