Reed K. Mahuna Sworn In as Big Island Police Chief in Hilo

Mayor Kimo Alameda administered the oath to Reed K. Mahuna during a private swearing-in in the mayor’s office in Hilo, enabling Mahuna to formally carry out duties as chief of the Hawaii Police Department. The ceremony was attended by Mahuna’s family and members of the county administration, Hawai‘i County Police said.

The Hawai‘i County Police Commission named Mahuna as conditional police chief on January 30, pending the successful completion of a background check and physical examination, the department’s release states. The commission’s action followed a “lengthy search” in which commissioners interviewed eight finalists drawn from an original pool of more than 20 candidates, Hawaii News Now reported.

Mahuna has been serving as Interim Police Chief since Sept. 1, 2025, after Chief Benjamin Moszkowicz retired on August 31, 2025, the department’s timeline shows. He is a 28-year veteran of the department and becomes the 13th chief in the department’s 83-year history, the Hawai‘i County Police release said.

Mahuna’s personnel record includes a series of department promotions and assignments with explicit dates: he was named Acting Deputy Chief on July 1, 2023; sworn in as Deputy Police Chief on Friday, January 12, 2024; and permanently appointed as Deputy Police Chief effective Tuesday, January 16, 2024. He previously served as deputy police chief, police major, and police captain in the Criminal Investigation Division, and was born and raised on Hawai‘i Island. Hawaii News Now noted he holds a bachelor’s degree in criminology and criminal justice from Lindenwood University.

Mayor Alameda framed the selection as a stability move for public safety. “Chief Mahuna’s appointment provides steady and experienced leadership for HPD that will strengthen public safety across our island,” Alameda said. “I want to again thank our Police Commissioners for the diligence and transparency shown during the selection process.” Mahuna offered a statement on his priorities: “It is a deeply humbling privilege to lead the men and women of this department and to serve the people of Hawaiʻi Island,” Mahuna said. “I remain committed to supporting our officers, strengthening community partnerships, and working collaboratively to keep our island communities safe.”

A larger public swearing-in is scheduled for Friday, March 6, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Aunty Sally Kaleohano’s Lūʻau Hale, 799 Piʻilani St., in Hilo, with light refreshments to follow, the county release said. Mahuna will name a deputy chief at a later time, and that nominee will then go before the Police Commission for approval. The county’s official release uses “Hawaii Police Department” while some local outlets referred to the office as the “Big Island Police Department.”