Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Memorials topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Hawaii County Council unanimously passes condolence resolution for Fire Chief Todd
Summary
The Hawaii County Council on Jan. 7 passed Resolution 4‑29‑25 expressing profound condolences on the death of Fire Chief Todd after several staff members, colleagues and family offered tributes; the motion passed unanimously (9‑0).
HILO — The Hawaii County Council on Wednesday unanimously approved a resolution honoring the late Fire Chief Todd and expressing the county’s condolences to his family and the fire department.
Council members heard more than a half‑dozen tributes from colleagues, staff and friends during the public‑comment period and the council discussion. Renee Godoy, a police and fire chaplain and founder of Friends of First Responders, told the council she had worked closely with the chief and described him as “a priceless treasure to our community” who balanced technical skill with a warm personal touch.
The resolution — introduced by Council members Inaba and Kimball as Resolution 4‑29‑25 — recognizes Chief Todd’s years of service and leadership. Testimony in support included long statements from department staff: Lauren Williamson, who served as the chief’s secretary, called him “brilliant” and “an ambassador of public service,” and Deputy Chief Daniel Volpe praised the chief’s clarity of mission — “to save life and property, to safeguard the community, and to serve the public with aloha.”
Why it matters: The council’s action is a formal acknowledgment of the chief’s role in county emergency planning and fire‑safety work; speakers repeatedly linked his leadership to recent efforts on wildfire safety and department readiness.
What the council did: Council member Kimball moved the resolution and Council member Kerkowitz seconded it. The chamber voted “aye” without opposition; the clerk reported nine members in favor and the motion carried unanimously.
Looking ahead: After the vote the council recessed briefly for photographs with the chief’s family; the county also announced memorial services and asked the public to attend tributes scheduled for the weekend.
Representative quotations from the meeting include Godoy’s statement that the chief had an “impact on my life” and Williamson’s remark that “he was brilliant, yes, a problem solver and out of the box thinker.” The council’s formal approval concludes the agenda item; no further action was taken at the meeting.
