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Audit finds Hawaii County’s derelict and abandoned‑vehicle program generally effective; five improvements recommended
Summary
A performance audit of the Department of Environmental Management’s derelict and abandoned vehicle program found the program generally manages identification, removal and disposition in accordance with HRS §290 but recommended five improvements including enhanced staff safety, better public reporting options, improved written procedures, auction modernization and cross‑training. DEM concurred and said several steps are already underway.
The Office of the County Auditor told the Communications, Reports and Council Oversight Committee on July 23 that a performance audit of the Department of Environmental Management’s derelict and abandoned vehicle program found the program generally effective but in need of targeted improvements.
“Overall, the Solid Waste Division does manage its derelict and abandoned vehicle program effectively and in line with Hawaii Revised Statutes,” County Auditor Tyler Benner said as he debriefed the committee on Report 2024‑02 (published July 3). The audit reviewed program inventory, financial records and controls from August 2023 through June 2024, conducted ride‑alongs, inspected all three impound lots and interviewed staff.
The audit identified five recommendations: prioritize personal protective equipment and formalize safety procedures; broaden and modernize public reporting options so remote areas are reported and removed more quickly; enhance written policies and procedures (including field protocols and software security); modernize and increase the frequency of vehicle auctions to preserve revenues; and expand cross‑training for program continuity. Benner noted the department generally concurred with the recommendations.
Brenda Yilcapa Moses, Deputy Director for the Department of Environmental Management, told the committee that the department has already begun addressing several of the recommendations, including meeting with a safety officer, exploring cameras and handheld radios for field staff and expanding personnel on the West side to reduce travel burdens. Julie, the program employee who joined on Zoom, said the department has instituted a vehicle disposal assistance program that allows property or vehicle owners to dispose of up to two vehicles per year at no cost to help disadvantaged and remote communities.
Council members praised the audit’s clarity and recommended follow‑up on funding needs. Several members asked whether the vehicle disposal fee should be adjusted (the department said the fee has not been changed in decades and is under consideration) and whether the county should pursue additional funding to address illegal junkyards and the program’s growing interdepartmental costs.
The committee voted to close the file on Communication 938 after the discussion; the chair recorded nine members in support.
