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Committee recommends $1.5 million capital project for county morgue space to council
Summary
The committee voted to forward Bill 180, which adds a $1.5 million Police Department morgue project to the capital budget to begin securing temporary and permanent morgue capacity; police officials cited hospital morgues operating at or above capacity and described temporary container and autopsy arrangements while a permanent solution is pursued.
The Committee on Finance voted July 23 to forward Bill 180 to the full council with a favorable recommendation. The bill adds the Police Department Hawaii County Morgue Project to the capital budget with a requested amount of $1.5 million, to be funded from general obligation bonds, capital project fund balance and other sources.
Major Sherry Byrd of the Hawaii Police Department told the committee that local hospitals are at or over capacity for decedents: "As early as September, they are moving towards no longer accepting decedents who pass away outside of their facility," she said, describing chillers and morgue capacity constraints at Hilo Benioff Medical Center and Kona Community Hospital. Byrd outlined a temporary plan to use a container the department holds in its inventory and to lease autopsy suite space from a laboratory vendor while the county searches for a permanent morgue location. The police chief's role as county coroner (per statute) was noted.
Council members expressed support for pursuing both temporary capacity and a long‑term facility; one council member emphasized the importance of budgeting for a permanent county morgue. Deputy Corporation Counsel Cody Frenz and staff from the police department answered procedural questions.
The committee approved forwarding the capital request to full council with a favorable recommendation (clerk recorded nine in favor). Departments will continue work to identify a permanent site and finalize temporary arrangements while pursuing funding.
