YWCA to honor emergency management veterans Oliveira and Leonard at luncheon

The YWCA of Hawaii Island will put two of the county’s most recognizable emergency management names in the spotlight when it honors Darryl Oliveira and Chris Leonard at its 15th annual Remarkable People luncheon. The event will run from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 21, at the UH Hilo Campus Dining Center, Sodexo, 200 W. Kawili.

For Hawaii Island, the choice carries more weight than a routine community award. Oliveira and Leonard represent the kind of public service that often becomes visible only when neighborhoods are under threat, roads are closed, or responders are racing to keep people safe. In a county that has lived through repeated storms, fire concerns and disaster response challenges, the luncheon will recognize leaders whose decisions have had a direct impact on public safety and recovery.

The YWCA said the luncheon honors contributions these people have made to the community while raising much needed funds for its services in Hawaii County. The organization said the event supports its mission programs and helps ensure its services remain available. Registration and event questions can be directed to Malia at events@ywcahawaiiisland.org or (808) 930-5705.

Oliveira’s background explains why his name carries so much local and statewide credibility. He previously served as Hawaii County fire chief and civil defense administrator, and he spent 31 years with the Hawaii Fire Department, including the last nine years as chief. His experience spans structural fire protection, wildland fire protection and suppression, and search-and-rescue operations, the kind of work that shapes how an island prepares for the next emergency.

His reputation also extended beyond Hawaii Island. In August 2023, after the Maui wildfire crisis, Oliveira was named interim administrator of the Maui Emergency Management Agency, underscoring how his emergency management experience has been relied on in moments of high pressure well beyond Hawaii County. That broader role adds context to the YWCA’s decision to single him out as an emergency management veteran rather than simply a former county official.

The luncheon’s focus on Oliveira and Leonard also reflects a wider public lesson: preparedness is built over years, through training, coordination and hard calls made before and during disasters. By elevating those who have worked in the background of storm response, fire protection and civil defense, the YWCA is linking community recognition to the practical work that keeps Hawaii Island moving when crises hit.