Hawaii County Council narrowly adopts amended MOUs allowing continued cooperation between HPD and federal agencies

The Hawaii County Council adopted an amended resolution on April 2 that authorizes the mayor and the Hawaii Police Department to enter or continue intergovernmental agreements with federal partners, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, "to support their continued cooperation with the Hawaii Police Department for the safety of the County of Hawaii." The measure passed after council members added language clarifying that the agreements do not authorize local officers to enforce administrative violations of federal immigration law.

Why it matters: The measure and the day-long public discussion that preceded it touched on a major local policy fault line — whether local police should collaborate more closely with federal immigration and criminal investigators. Opponents said deeper cooperation could chill reporting and harm immigrant communities; supporters and police leaders said targeted task-force arrangements help the county investigate serious federal crimes and improve public safety.

Council debate and amendment: Councilmember Kaguada introduced the resolution and later withdrew an initial motion before reoffering it; Councilmember Kagiwara moved an amendment that the council ultimately adopted. That amendment added a new whereas clause stating, in part, that "none of the…