Dept. of Transportation Quarterly Newsletter
Connecting the DOTs...
2nd Quarter Edition 2022
Honoring a Hero - Officer Henry Koa
By: Jai Cunningham
The Hawaii Department of Transportation Harbor Police have a difficult job. They are tasked with patrolling the state’s ten commercial harbors to make certain the traffic out on the water remains calm and that these large areas are safe.
threatening emergency he spoke about wanting to get back to work.
One of those dedicated Officers was Henry Koa, who spent 32 years patrolling Maui Harbors.
Officer Koa did not make it back to work that night, his end of watch was September 30, 2021.
On September 30, 2021, while on duty Officer Koa suffered a medical emergency.
The Hawaii Law Enforcement Memorial is right outside the Kalanimoku Building in downtown Honolulu.
Somehow, he was able to drive himself to the hospital, and even while being treated for a life-
The names of heroes who were killed or died in the line of duty are honored there with End of Watch Plaques. On May 15, family and friends of Henry Koa gathered to see his plaque unveiled. The HDOT Ohana wants to join his family and friends in thanking Henry Aiau Kauka Koa for the many years of dedicated, heroic service to our community.
CONNECTING THE DOTs Editor-in-Chief: Darren Cantrill Managing Editor: Rae Nguyen Column Writers: Melanie Martin Jai Cunningham
Contributors: Darren Cantrill Jai Cunningham Highway Safety Office Andrew Hirano Brian Kamimoto Daniel Williams Craig Bisgard Rodney Gerard
Table of Contents
Honoring a Hero - Officer Henry Koa ............................ 1 Office of Civil Rights Welcome Eugenia Kim ....... 2 Administration .................... 3
Copy Editor: Daniel Garcia
Airports ................................ 4
Office of Civil Rights Welcomes Eugenia Kim By: Daniel Williams Office of Civil Rights hires Eugenia Kim who joins the DOT ‘ohana as a Civil Rights Specialist III – DBE Certifier/Certification Specialist. Developing, monitoring and evaluating civil rights programs, the Civil Rights Specialist ensures the compliance of civil rights laws, rules and regulations while frequently dealing with sometimes controversial and complex matters.
Highways ............................. 6 Arrivals ............................... 10 Departures ......................... 11
Rights programs and transportation. In this new year, what are you looking forward to? Getting to know my OCR team better and working with them to have a successful 2022.
What aspect(s) of your new job at OCR are you most interested in? I am excited to work with and help minority owned and small businesses succeed. So far, what is the most interesting part of your new job at OCR? OCR is a great and supportive team. What experience(s) from your background has helped you adjust to your new position? I have a diverse background in various Civil PAGE 2
Administration One-Stop Self-Service Training Portal Now Available By: Darren Cantrill The ADMIN-CSS Office is announcing a new internal training portal webpage with the goal of consolidating all known training programs into one central area. This easy, one-stop access offers training courses with a click of a button. The link can be found on the HDOT’s ServiceNow Employee Self-Service Portal.
Once the link is selected, you will have access to the following training programs including procurement requirements, ethics courses and even Microsoft classes to update your office skills in Word, Excel and Powerpoint. If your division has a training program that needs to be added, please send all information to: darren.a.cantrill@hawaii.gov.
PAGE 3
Airports It’s the Final Aloha to Fire Chief Scott Pires
By: Brian Kamimoto
At the close of business day on May 31, Maui District Airport Fire Chief Scott Pires is retiring after 29 years with the ARFF department.
Airport’s emergency plan.
Thus, begins a new chapter in Scott’s journey and certainly not the end of the story or his destination.
In 2021, night medevac exercises by AMR/REACH and the United State Coast Guard helicopters.
When asked to list any milestones in his career, he cited the ARFF 1003 program. “We developed the training curriculum and accreditation with the Pro Board and delivered it to recruit classes that were incorporated into a first ever joint State and County recruit program,” said Pires.
Under his tenure, ARFF offered CPR, First Aid and Stop the Bleed classes to all departments under the Airports, and sister departments that included Highways, Harbors and DLNR.
During Chief Pires’ tenure, community service played a very important role, in both his personal and professional life. Chief led by example and left his mark on the patients and residents of Kalaupapa with his generosity.
Fire extinguisher training, and live burn training to firefighters from Pacific was also instituted.
It’s a little-known fact outside of Kalaupapa, but for the past couple of Thanksgivings, he cohosted dinner for all patients and residents. During the height of the pandemic in 2020, 45 Costco rotisserie chicken plus fresh fruits and a special run of dark chocolate and Kalaupapa sea salt made by Maui Specialty Chocolates were flown in. Last year the number grew to 90 rotisserie chicken and almost 200 Spam musubi’s. Kalaupapa’s emergency management services also benefitted under Chief Pires.
Chief Pires holds up the many accolades and awar ds during his service with DOT.
Chief Pires built networking relationships with National Parks, US Coast Guard, US Coast Guard auxiliary, private helicopter companies with the ability to move things between islands with expediency. Scott’s airport firefighting career began in 1993 when he was hired as a Firefighter II. In 1996, Scott was promoted to AFEO and assigned to Kapalua Airport until 1998. In 1998, Scott was promoted to Lieutenant and stationed at Molokai Airport until 2007, when he transferred to Kahului Airport in 2008.
In January 2020, 25 participants from various agencies, test key elements of Kalaupapa
See PIRES RETIREMENT page 5 PAGE 4
Airports Civil Air Patrol-Kona Composite Awards ADM for Outstanding Assistance By: Craig Bisgard Showing their gratitude for all the years of support from the DOT, Civil Air Patrol has awarded Airport District Manager Chauncey Wong Yuen for outstanding assistance in their move to their new hangar and office space at KOA.
exclaimed Lt. Col Marlene Johnson of the CAP Kona Composite Squadron.
Civil Air Patrol “We truly appreciate it. Everyone loves it,” offers youth development, training in Kaj Loken-Kim, CAP volunteer and pilot poses next to the Civil emergency Air Patrol plane in Kona Composite Squadron’s newest hangar. response, and leadership in the aviation field. The Kona Composite Squadron currently has 30 active cadets in its nonprofit volunteer branch.
PIRES RETIREMENT continued from page 4
Scott was selected as a Captain to lead Green shift in 2009 until 2014. In 2015, Scott was chosen to the Maui District Airport Commander position. Among the many things he’ll miss, is the conversations and interactions he shared with not only the ARFF department but the Admin sections as well. es and Chief hief Scott Pir C s re Fi , es ir times at Pire’ Mrs. P ce the good is in m re l el Mitch arty. retirement p
Scott’s newest chapter will include lots of diving for squid, gardening, woodworking and spoiling his new grandchild. Also plans on being an Independent Contractor to write Safety plans and ICS training in the private sector. PAGE 5
Highways Celebrating World Oceans Day 2022
By: Rodney Gerard
All divisions’ MS4s are regulated under the Hawaii Administrative Rules, Chapter 11-55, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit. The State of Hawaii Department of Health (DOH) issues MS4 NPDES Permits to authorize the discharge of storm water runoff and certain non-storm water discharges from permittees into state waters in and around the islands.
World Oceans Day, annually celebrated on June 8th, is a day to raise global awareness of the benefits humankind derives from the ocean and our individual and collective duty to use its resources sustainably. The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) plays a critical role in the protection of our ocean environment. All three divisions of HDOT (Airports, Harbors and Highways) own and operate a municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4), which conveys storm water runoff from our transportation infrastructure and into the nearest stream or ocean. As this runoff travels through the storm drain system, it has the potential to carry oil, sediment, and other pollutants, negatively impacting our water quality. HDOT implements storm water management initiatives across the state to help reduce the potential for pollutants to be discharged from HDOT’s storm drains.
The development of a Storm Water Management Program is one of the main requirements of an MS4 NPDES Permit. HDOT’s Storm Water Management Programs all share the following six components, known as Minimum Control Measures: • Public Education and Outreach • Public Involvement/Participation • Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination • Construction Site Runoff Control • Post-Construction Storm Water Management • Pollution Prevention and Good Housekeeping For more information about HDOT’s Storm Water Management Programs, please visit here. HDOT is proud of its environmental stewardship efforts and the role it plays in preserving Hawaii’s ocean resources. World Oceans Day is a reminder of the collective action that is required to restore and revitalize this priceless global resource. To explore more World Oceans Day events, visit here.
PAGE 6
Highways Safe Systems Series and Safe Systems Challenge
By: Highway Safety Office The Highway Safety Office continues its series of articles throughout the year that will emphasize the Safe Systems Approach.
crashes. Ensuring every person in your vehicle is wearing a seat belt or secure in the appropriate child passenger restraint will drastically reduce your risk of injury or death.
As an incentive to the reader, we want you to join us in the “Safe Systems Challenge.” Participate in the “Safe System Challenge” by learning more about the Safe Systems Approach and identifying how we are moving forward as a State in adopting Safe Systems concepts.
Sadly, even with a seat belt use rate of over 97%, we still lose an average of 16 lives each year due to individuals not being properly restrained. This year the legislature passed S.B. 152, which will change the requirements for child passenger restraints.
You will have an opportunity with each Safe Systems newsletter article to participate in a quiz, an “I spy photo game”, or actively participate in one of our traffic safety campaigns.
Youth up to two years old now need to be in a “rear-facing” child passenger restraint.
You will earn one out of 7 badges for each entry. Each badge will serve as a submission to prize drawing held at the end of the year. The last newsletter article focused on the Safe User, and if you still want to participate in the safe user challenge by clicking here. This article again focuses on Safe Users. June is the beginning of summer and with that comes things like vacation, visitors, and often traffic
Children will now need to either be 10 years old or taller than 4 feet 9 inches to sit without a booster seat. The passage of this measure ensures children along all stages of growth and development are in the safest seat for their height and age. You can participate in the third part of the “Safe Systems Challenge” by clicking here to take quick survey, and see the latest safety message by NHTSA.
PAGE 7
Highways Statewide Noxious Invasive Pest Program
By: Andrew Hirano
What is SNIPP? In 2009, the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation (HDOT) worked with stakeholders to formulate the Highways Division’s Statewide Noxious Invasive Pest Program (SNIPP) for the management of invasive species on HDOTadministered land. This stakeholder engagement resulted in the development of a 10-year SNIPP Strategic Plan, which has been actively implemented since 2012 through a contract with SWCA Environmental Consultants. Funding for the program comes from HDOT and the U.S. Department of Transportation. Why is SNIPP needed? Hawai‘i’s unique environment, rich biodiversity, and geographic isolation make the islands particularly vulnerable to the impacts of invasive species.
Invasive species can also be introduced to highway rightsof-way (ROWs) by contaminated equipment or materials (e.g., soil, mulch, and gravel) used during road construction projects. Properties that border the ROWs are also a potential source of invasive species within road corridors. Reducing the introduction, spread, and impact of invasive species within ROWs ensures that we mālama āina and do our part as active land stewards. How is SNIPP being implemented? SNIPP is focused on five strategic tasks for invasive species management within highway ROWs and other HDOTadministered sites:
These impacts include degradation of natural SNIPP undertakes surveys for the invasive habitats, harm to little fire ant (wasmannia auropunctata). human health, and 1. Prevention of the spread and Photo courtesy of Hawaii Ant Lab. reduced economic establishment of invasive species output due to factors along ROWs. such as crop damage and costly invasive species control programs, 2. Early detection and rapid response to identify, estimated to be close to $150 million per year. report, and respond to newly detected species before they impact ROWs. Vehicles are one of the primary catalysts for the dispersal of invasive species along transportation corridors. See SNIPP PROGRAM page 9 PAGE 8
Highways SNIPP PROGRAM continued from page 8
3. Control and management of already established invasive species to reduce their harmful impacts on ROWs. 4. Restoration using non-invasive or appropriate native plants on ROWs that reduce risk from harmful invasive plants. 5. Community outreach and organizational collaboration with other state agencies, non-profit organizations, and neighboring landowners to ensure long-term solutions for invasive species management in Hawaiʻi.
Training and promoting the use of best management practices is a major componen t of the SNIPP. Above, HDOT maintenance work ers on Kauai receive training in chainsaw maintena nce.
Some of the work that has been completed to date as part of SNIPP includes: • Roadside Surveys: Every other year, 400 miles of state roadsides is surveyed to document the current distribution and abundance of priority invasive species in state ROWs.
• Site Surveys: Surveys are conducted at HDOT facilities and construction sites to document the presence of target invasive species.
The locations of invasive species populations are loaded onto the publicly accessible Invasive Plant Mapping Website.
• HMSLM and MPTD Trainings: Annual training workshops are provided to HDOT staff and contractors based on material in HDOT’s Highway Manual for Sustainable Landscape Maintenance (HMSLM). Maintenance Professional Track Development (MPTD) workshops are also provided for HDOT staff in subjects pertinent to their roles.
are also invasive species in Albizia or falcataria moluccana st and Kim Starr. Hawaii. Photos courtesy of Fore
Future SNIPP updates In the coming issues of the HDOT newsletter we will provide SNIPP updates, highlight invasive species to look out for, and share best management practices for their control.
PAGE 9
ARRIVALS “Arrivals and Departures” spotlights new employees and and congratulates retiring employees. DOT wishes both departing/retiring employees well. It is an honor to welcome new groups the best in their future endeavors.
ARRIVALS
NAME
Jardine,Tammy Marie Tamiko Rigucira,Victorina Pasion Ramos, Edmundo Miyasato, Reid Masao Coffin, Andrew S R Sarme, Wesley J Corpuz, Christopher Rigonan Pastrana, Kurt Sutekichi Palakiko, Conrad I Louie, Tomomi Yokoi Cabuloy, Jessica Shanelle Cachola Ursua, Hernando A West, John Kaikama Hunnicutt-Bicknell, Linda Lee Keelan, Jane R. Walker Sr, Samuel F Furutani, Kyle Yukio Severo, Macario O Doan, Brandon Scott Lawrence, Chelsea J C Feki, Daniel Eddie Estrada, Wilfredo Acosta Fuentes, Veronica Ann Mendiola Maranan, Kekalani Lehua Tomson, Shyla-Lyn Eiko Schneider, Benjamin Michael Barcebal, Benedicta R Anderson, Ikaika Lima-Po Speelman, Brandon Charles Lionel, Barrozo Doan, Danny Nguyen Kim, Woohyuk Von Oelhoffen, Tessa Ann Puaa, Didda Hokulani Pacarro, Ricksson J K Perez, Kerysa Ann U’Ianuenue A Tsuha, Jenna Rae Misae
E Komo Mai!
TITLE
Office Assistant III Janitor II Engineer III Engineer I General Laborer II General Laborer II Crash/Fire Equipment Mechanic General Laborer II Janitor II Accountant III Pre Audit Clerk I Janitor II Engineer I Visitor Inf Prgm Asst I Secretary III Janitor II Electrician I Land Boundary Surveyor I Information Technology Band A Human Resources Assistant III Janitor II Engineer III Private Secretary II Janitor II Secretary II Automotive Mechanic Helper Janitor II Janitor II General Laborer II General Laborer II Engineer V Visitor Inf Prgm Asst II Janitor II Janitor II General Laborer II Janitor II Human Resources Assistant III PAGE 10
DIV/ISLE
AIR/Maui AIR/Maui AIR/Oahu AIR/Oahu HWYS/Maui HWYS/Lanai AIR/Oahu HWYS/Maui AIR/Kauai HWYS/Oahu AIR/Oahu AIR/Hawaii AIR/Oahu AIR/Hawaii HWYS/Hawaii AIR/Hawaii AIR/Hawaii HWYS/Oahu HWYS/Oahu HWYS/Kauai AIR/Hawaii AIR/Oahu ADMIN/Oahu AIR/Oahu AIR/Oahu HWYS/Hawaii AIR/Maui AIR/Oahu HWYS/Maui HWYS/Maui HWYS/Oahu AIR/Oahu AIR/Oahu AIR/Oahu AIR/Oahu AIR/Oahu HWYS/Oahu
DATE
04/01/2022 04/03/2022 04/11/2022 04/11/2022 04/18/2022 04/18/2022 04/18/2022 04/18/2022 04/18/2022 04/18/2022 04/20/2022 04/25/2022 04/25/2022 05/01/2022 05/02/2022 05/02/2022 05/02/2022 05/02/2022 05/02/2022 05/02/2022 05/03/2022 05/03/2022 05/16/2022 05/16/2022 05/16/2022 05/16/2022 05/17/2022 05/23/2022 05/23/2022 06/01/2022 06/01/2022 06/01/2022 06/01/2022 06/01/2022 06/01/2022 06/03/2022 06/06/2022
DEPARTURES “Arrivals and Departures” spotlights new employees and and congratulates retiring employees. DOT wishes both departing/retiring employees well. It is an honor to welcome new groups the best in their future endeavors.
DEPARTURES
NAME
Karratti-Abordo,Felix John Benanua,Terence K Morgan,Mark E Shimamoto,Dee A Samio,Tracy J Miyashiro,Gregg W Prito,Roxanne M Carroll Jr,Robert James Bacalso,Mariano A Neilson Nenezich,Rosemary P Bacani,Edmund B Medeiros,Clyde N Lantry III,Edward Thomas Sakai,Novelie R Fuentes,Patricia Malaba Antone,Jerni Ka Huakai’i Kama Bongo,Ryan M Ahinga,Pomaikaiokalani L Castro,Ericson Domingo Weinstock,Ryan David Panui,Wayne K Eshima,Amber Y McCain,Patrick H Bush,Georgiette T Robbins,Mary Ann G Canales,Robert D Moku IV,David K Rothenberger,Charles F Pires,Scott P Burton,David E Gomes,Brian Arthur Flaherty,Kelly Joyce Dun,Charles C
Mahalo Nui Loa!
TITLE
Heavy Equipment Operator Equipment Operator III Hwy Constr & Mtnce Supvr II Human Resources Assistant V Airport Fire Lieutenant Groundskeeper II Secretary II Building Maintenance Worker I Janitor II Airports District Manager II Engineering Technician V Land Surveyor II Electronic Traffic Signal Tech Office Assistant III Engineering Aid III Janitor II Power Mower Operator I Airport Firefighter Motor Carrier Safety Offcr I Airport Firefighter General Laborer I Information Technology Band B Deputy Director Of Transportat Heavy Truck Driver Secretary I General Laborer II Equipment Operator III Truck Driver Airport Fire Commander (Maui) Engineering Technician VII Airport Operations Contr III Harbor Enforcement Officer II Information Technology Band B
PAGE 11
DIV/ISLE
HWYS/Oahu HWYS/Hawaii HWYS/Maui AIR/Oahu AIR/Maui AIR/Hawaii AIR/Maui AIR/Maui AIR/Maui AIR/Oahu HWYS/Oahu HWYS/Maui HWYS/Kauai ADMIN/Oahu HWYS/Oahu AIR/Oahu AIR/Oahu AIR/Oahu HWYS/Oahu AIR/Kauai HWYS/Kauai ADMIN/Oahu ADMIN/Oahu HAR/Oahu HAR/Oahu HWYS/Kauai HWYS/Oahu HWYS/Oahu AIR/Maui HWYS/Oahu AIR/Oahu HAR/Oahu HWYS/Oahu
DATE
04/01/2022 04/01/2022 04/01/2022 04/01/2022 04/01/2022 04/01/2022 04/01/2022 04/01/2022 04/01/2022 04/01/2022 04/01/2022 04/01/2022 04/01/2022 04/09/2022 04/09/2022 04/13/2022 04/15/2022 04/19/2022 04/23/2022 04/27/2022 04/30/2022 05/01/2022 05/04/2022 05/21/2022 05/28/2022 06/01/2022 06/01/2022 06/01/2022 06/01/2022 06/01/2022 06/02/2022 06/15/2022 06/16/2022
