KAILUA-KONA — A lot of words can be used to describe a police officer, but just one came up repeatedly when it came to Hawaii Police Department Assistant Chief Paul Kealoha, who retires today after 31 years of service to the Big Island.
“Humble.”
That six-letter word means not being proud or haughty, nor arrogant or assertive, according to Merriam-Webster, and is a good descriptor for Kealoha.
“Paul is such a humble guy and he is the guy every officer should be modeled after,” said Ginger Towle, a Kona Crime Prevention Committee board member and community advocate who has known Kealoha since he first entered the force in 1985. “He’s marvelous to his men and his community as a whole. He’s just laid back, people feel calmed down around him and he’s just absolutely marvelous … I don’t know anyone that has ever been unhappy with Paul, he’s very conscientious and gracious to everyone. I think it’s his calming effect — he seems to handle people very well.”
Over the years, Towle said she’s worked with him in various capacities, from the KCPC to the West Hawaii Humane Society, which she oversees, as well as personally when her own sister, Jan, developed Alzheimer’s. After the diagnosis, Kealoha, as well as John Dawrs, who retired in December 2009 as a major, would spend time with Jan and her husband, Charlie, and there “wasn’t any thing that they couldn’t do” for them, she said.
And that was the case when one day Jan wandered off, Towle said.
“We had about every police officer on-duty and off-duty. We had the fire department. We had dogs. We had the helicopters. They had all kinds of awards offered because of all the donations they’d received. Paul’s always there. When there’s a need somewhere he is there and he doesn’t have to be asked,” Towle said, adding that her sister was located.
Kealoha’s counselor when he was a youngster attending Honokaa High and Intermediate School also described him as humble, noting that even before high school he showed signs of being a leader.
“From an early age, he showed a lot of responsibility. He knew how to have fun, but also showed a lot of responsibility and cared for people,” said Warren Chong, who remembered Kealoha being sent to his office just once for something like being late to class or not turning in a paper. “He knew how to work with people and he’s a very humble person. “He’s been a good representative of our community and an indicator of what a great police force we have on the island.”
Kealoha was promoted to his current post in July 2011, filling a vacancy left when Henry Tavares moved back to East Hawaii to oversee operations. Before becoming assistant chief in West Hawaii, he served as major of the administrative services section in East Hawaii for several years after transferring from his position of captain of the Area II criminal investigations section, which he held for about five years, after he left the helm of Kona patrol, where he began as a patrol officer in October 1985.
“The fact that I started in 1985, with the exception of several years between 2008 and 2011 being on the east side, all my time was out in West Hawaii and what I’m thankful for is all the community support I’ve gotten along the way,” Kealoha said Tuesday.
To officers on the west side, Kealoha urged them to continue to foster relationships that have developed between the police department and the community.
“Policing is definitely getting more difficult and once we lose the community trust it’s going to be even more difficult,” he said. “West Hawaii, I believe, so far, that the community is still behind the police and that is important, very, very important. What’s going across the U.S. we watch here basically to see what’s happening, but we’re definitely different but at the same time we’ve got to be very, very careful with the trust that we’ve already established with the communities.”
Police Chief Harry Kubojiri, who wraps up a 37-year career at the end of this year, said it was Kealoha’s merit and ability that made him a good fit for the position when he promoted him five years ago.
“A plus for Assistant Chief Kealoha was he resides on the Kona side, and because the assistant chief in operations represent the office of the police chief, I thought it would be great to have someone there present and easily accessible to the community,” Kubojiri said.
He also trusted that with Kealoha not only working in the community, but also living on the west side of the island, he’d be able to provide more input and insight to the police chief regarding West Hawaii operations.
“Because this island is so geographically large, I didn’t want West Hawaii to feel like they didn’t have a voice,” said Kubojiri, noting that he meets with his assistant chiefs every Monday morning. “Whatever concerns the community had, he would bring it up then, if not sooner. That is one way we were able to keep in touch with the west side of the island.”
Next to fill the slot is Mitchell Kanehailua, who joined the department in 1984 and has served as major of West Hawaii operations since March 2013.
As for plans after retiring, Kealoha said he is still trying to figure out what he’d like to do.
“Mahalo,” he said. “But it’s time to move on and start chapter in my life.”