Maui Emergency Management Agency moves into new Emergency Operations Center

October 24, 2026, 6:00 AM HST

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The interior of the new Maui Emergency Operations Center in Wailuku shows rows of operator workstations facing a video wall displaying weather, satellite and mapping data. PC: County of Maui

Maui Emergency Management Agency staff members officially moved into their new Maui Emergency Operations Center (EOC) building in Wailuku, marking a significant step in the County of Maui’s work to strengthen emergency preparedness and response.

Since its start, MEMA has been stationed in the County’s Kalana O Maui building, 200 S. High St. Now, the MEMA team is operating from the new EOC, located in the former Hawaiian Telcom building just a block away.

The new 9,355-square-foot facility increases the County’s capacity to bring emergency response partners together during an emergency activation, with space to accommodate up to 198 people, nearly quadrupling the former EOC capacity of 52 people, according to the County of Maui.

County, state and federal leaders, along with first responders, gathered at the end of June for a blessing at the new EOC.

“The new Emergency Operations Center is an important milestone and another step in my ongoing commitment to keeping our community safe,” Mayor Richard Bissen said. “We have worked to build strong leadership, grow our team and make sure our emergency managers and first responders have the tools they need to protect the people of Maui Nui.”

In January 2024, Amos Lonokailua-Hewett, a retired Maui Fire Department battalion chief with 25 years of service, was selected to lead MEMA. Since then, MEMA has grown from nine to 25 positions, with six additional positions approved. As of 2024, MEMA has been activated more than 92 times for emergencies, including storms, flooding and a hurricane warning.

The project to develop a new EOC began under a prior administration in 2020 with the purchase of the property. It was funded primarily by the County of Maui through bond and general funds, with additional support from federal and state grants administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Hawaiʻi state emergency management agencies.