Help get our wage adjustments, and get our steps back!!!
Resolution 26-133 is up TODAY, Tuesday August 18, at 1:30 p.m. before the Government Relations, Ethics, and Transparency Committee. This is the resolution that authorizes our mediation settlement and approves the additional cost items for our BU-11 contract, July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2029. That means the wage adjustments and our step system back.
We need written testimony in support before 1:30. No account needed, you can submit as a guest. It takes two minutes.
Go to the agenda item: https://mauicounty.granicusideas.com/meetings/2432-government-relations-ethics-and-transparency-committee-2025-2027-on-2026-08-18-1-30-pm/agenda_items/6a7ceae0f395e714f5001053-great-11-35-reso-26-133-resolution-26-133-settle
1. Fill in your name and email in the guest fields, you
2. Select Support
3. Paste the template below, add your name and rank, and submit
Testimony template:
Dear Chair Batangan, Vice-Chair U’u-Hodgins, and members of the committee,
My name is Micah K PALMERTON. I am a FIRE FIGHTER III (Driver/Apparatus Operator) with the Maui Fire Department and a proud HFFA Local 1463 member. I am writing in strong support of Resolution 26-133.
This resolution approves the additional cost items for the Bargaining Unit 11 collective bargaining agreement based on the settlement our members ratified with the employer group. It matters because it helps firefighters keep up with the cost of living on Maui. Our wages have not kept pace with what it actually costs to live and raise a family here, and the wage adjustments and step progression in this settlement are a real step toward closing that gap.
Approving these cost items honors the collective bargaining process and helps us keep experienced firefighters here at home instead of losing them to places where their pay goes further.
I respectfully urge the committee to adopt Resolution 26-133.
Thank you for helping us live in the communities we serve.
Micah K Palmerton, FFIII, Maui Fire Department
Dear Chair Batangan, Vice-Chair U’u-Hodgins, and members of the committee,
My name is Kala’iku Pokini I am a Firefighter 1 with the Maui Fire Department and a proud HFFA Local 1463 member. I am writing in strong support of Resolution 26-133.
This resolution approves the additional cost items for the Bargaining Unit 11 collective bargaining agreement based on the settlement our members ratified with the employer group. It matters because it helps firefighters keep up with the cost of living on Maui. Our wages have not kept pace with what it actually costs to live and raise a family here, and the wage adjustments and step progression in this settlement are a real step toward closing that gap.
Approving these cost items honors the collective bargaining process and helps us keep experienced firefighters here at home instead of losing them to places where their pay goes further.
I respectfully urge the committee to adopt Resolution 26-133.
Thank you for helping us live in the communities we serve.
Kalaiku Pokini, Firefighter 1, Maui Fire Department
Dear Chair Batangan, Vice-Chair U’u-Hodgins, and Members of the Committee,
My name is Jordan Boswell, a Fire Fighter III with the Maui Fire Department and a proud HFFA Local 1463 member. I am writing in strong support of Resolution 26-133.
As a firefighter and a father living on Molokai, I see firsthand how difficult it is becoming to support a family. The cost of groceries, housing, utilities, and everyday necessities continues to rise, while our wages struggle to keep up. This settlement provides meaningful wage adjustments and step progression that will help firefighters like me better provide for our families.
Supporting this resolution also helps us retain experienced firefighters and continue serving the communities we call home.
I respectfully urge you to approve Resolution 26-133.
Thank you for your support.
Jordan Boswell
Fire Fighter III
Maui Fire Department
Dear Chair Batangan, Vice-Chair U’u-Hodgins, and members of the committee,
My name is Shawn Kiesel. I am a Fire Fighter with the Maui County Fire Department and a proud HFFA Local 1463 member. I am writing in strong support of Resolution 26-133.
This resolution approves the additional cost items for the Bargaining Unit 11 collective bargaining agreement based on the settlement our members ratified with the employer group. It matters because it helps firefighters keep up with the cost of living on Maui. Our wages have not kept pace with what it actually costs to live and raise a family here, and the wage adjustments and step progression in this settlement are a real step toward closing that gap.
Approving these cost items honors the collective bargaining process and helps us keep experienced firefighters here at home instead of losing them to places where their pay goes further.
My children are already planning to move elsewhere because the cost of living is so high. I used to work three jobs. I now work two jobs. Being a fire fighter and having to own a garage door business has been a blessing, but even my wife has had to go back to full time work to keep up with the cost of living. Most people I know work two jobs to survive. It is sad to see our oldest child leaving home because they cannot afford to stay here and have their own home.
I respectfully urge the committee to adopt Resolution 26-133.
Thank you for helping us live in the communities we serve.
Shawn Kiesel, Fire Fighter, Maui Fire Department
Writing in strong support of 26-133
Adjusted for inflation we earn significantly less than 5 years ago. This would help with the cost of living in the community we serve
R. Worcester FF1 MFD
Aloha my name is Scott Martin, I am writing in support of resolution 26-133 fair wages for Firefigjters.
1 year ago F irefighters went out of contract. SHOPO was able to get the largest pay raise any of the first responders have had as far as I can remember without even having to go to arbitration. After 1 year Firefighters received the worst contract I can remember in my 27 years of service. I’m definitely thankful that we didn’t have to wait four years for a contract update like we did between 2000 and 2004 that year we received a 24% raise. The public could not believe the amount, but if you think about it that was only 3% over eight year period. Barely keeping up with inflation and the cost of living. The contract that the arbitration decided on was very minimal and took away many of the benefits of the firefighters. Since the announcement and explanation of the contract, the morale of the Fire Dept has been at the lowest I’ve seen.
You as the county Council and the Mayor as the stewards of the county have the option to do what is right and just for the firefighters through this resolution. This resolution would be a step towards maintaining status quo with our benefits and would at least boost the morale a little bit.
I implore you as I said earlier to do what is right just into grant the firefighters what they deserve. I am on the last leg of my years of service. However, I will always support the Fire Dept and all of its members.
I appreciate your time and consideration to this matter. May God bless you and have a blessed day Aloha.
Dear Chair Batangan, Vice-Chair U’u-Hodgins, and members of the committee,
My name isTerry Gumz FFIII with the Maui Fire Department and a proud HFFA Local 1463 member. I have served as a firefighter for 19 years. I am writing in strong support of Resolution 26-133.
This resolution approves the additional cost items for the Bargaining Unit 11 collective bargaining agreement based on the settlement our members ratified with the employer group. It matters because it helps firefighters keep up with the cost of living on Maui. Our wages have not kept pace with what it actually costs to live and raise a family here, and the wage adjustments and step progression in this settlement are a real step toward closing that gap. We all know how the cost of living has far outpaced our wages.
Approving these cost items honors the collective bargaining process and helps us keep experienced firefighters here at home instead of losing them to places where their pay goes further. I have been considering a move to the mainland because I can barley afford to live here on Maui. I am dipping into my retirement account every month to make up for inflation.
I respectfully urge the committee to adopt Resolution 26-133.
Thank you for helping us live in the communities we serve.
Terry Gumz FFIII Maui Fire department
Dear Chair Batangan, Vice-Chair U’u-Hodgins, and members of the committee,
My name is Ikaika Blackburn. I am a Captain with the Maui Fire Department and a proud HFFA Local 1463 member. I am writing in strong support of Resolution 26-133.
This resolution approves the additional cost items for the Bargaining Unit 11 collective bargaining agreement based on the settlement our members ratified with the employer group. It matters because it helps firefighters keep up with the cost of living on Maui. Our wages have not kept pace with what it actually costs to live and raise a family here, and the wage adjustments and step progression in this settlement are a real step toward closing that gap.
Approving these cost items honors the collective bargaining process and helps us keep experienced firefighters here at home instead of losing them to places where their pay goes further.
I respectfully urge the committee to adopt Resolution 26-133.
Thank you for helping us live in the communities we serve.
Dear Chair Batangan, Vice-Chair U’u-Hodgins, and members of the committee,
My name is Pueo Maioho. I am writing in strong support of Resolution 26 - 133
As a firefighter’s wife living on Molokaʻi, I see firsthand how difficult it can be to make a living and raise a family here. The cost of housing, groceries, gas, and everyday necessities continues to rise, while our firefighters’ wages have not always kept pace with the true cost of living in our communities.
The wage adjustments and step progression included in this settlement are an important step toward addressing that gap. These men and women put so much into serving and protecting our communities, often working long hours, spending time away from their families, and sometimes laying down their lives. They deserve fair compensation that allows them to support their families while continuing to serve the people of Hawaiʻi.
Living on Molokaʻi also brings its own challenges. We are an island community with limited resources, high costs, and fewer opportunities for families. When experienced firefighters leave because they can no longer afford to stay, it affects not only their families but also the communities they have dedicated themselves to serving.
Approving these cost items honors the collective bargaining process and helps retain experienced firefighters here at home. It gives our firefighters a better opportunity to build a life, raise their families, and continue serving the communities that depend on them.
As a wife, I respectfully urge the committee to adopt Resolution 26-133 and support the firefighters and their families who make sacrifices every day to protect our communities.
Thank you for recognizing the importance of fairly supporting the people who serve and protect us, and for helping our families continue to live and serve in the communities we call home.
Dear Chair Batangan, Vice-Chair U’u-Hodgins, and members of the committee,
My name is Brian Park. I am a Firefighter I with the Maui Fire Department and a proud HFFA Local 1463 member. I am writing in strong support of Resolution 26-133.
This resolution approves the additional cost items for the Bargaining Unit 11 collective bargaining agreement based on the settlement our members ratified with the employer group. It matters because it helps firefighters keep up with the cost of living on Maui. Our wages have not kept pace with what it actually costs to live and raise a family here, and the wage adjustments and step progression in this settlement are a real step toward closing that gap.
Approving these cost items honors the collective bargaining process and helps us keep experienced firefighters here at home instead of losing them to places where their pay goes further.
I respectfully urge the committee to adopt Resolution 26-133.
Thank you for helping us live in the communities we serve.
Dear Chair Batangan, Vice-Chair U’u-Hodgins, and members of the committee,
My name is Kellen Yap. I am a Firefighter III with the Maui Fire Department and a proud HFFA Local 1463 member. I am writing in strong support of Resolution 26-133.
This resolution approves the additional cost items for the Bargaining Unit 11 collective bargaining agreement based on the settlement our members ratified with the employer group. It matters because it helps firefighters keep up with the cost of living on Maui. Our wages have not kept pace with what it actually costs to live and raise a family here, and the wage adjustments and step progression in this settlement are a real step toward closing that gap.
Approving these cost items honors the collective bargaining process and helps us keep experienced firefighters here at home instead of losing them to places where their pay goes further.
I respectfully urge the committee to adopt Resolution 26-133.
Thank you for helping us live in the communities we serve.
Kellen Yap, Firefighter III, Maui Fire Department
Dear Chair Batangan, Vice-Chair U’u-Hodgins, and members of the committee,
My name is Tyler Pascual . I am a member with the Maui Fire Department and a proud HFFA Local 1463 member. I am writing in strong support of Resolution 26-133.
This resolution approves the additional cost items for the Bargaining Unit 11 collective bargaining agreement based on the settlement our members ratified with the employer group. It matters because it assists firefighters to keep up with the constant increases in the cost of living on Maui. Our wages have not remotely kept pace with what it actually costs to confidently live and raise a family here, and the wage adjustments and step progression in this settlement are a fair step toward closing that gap.
Approving these cost items honors the collective bargaining process and helps us keep experienced firefighters here at home instead of losing them to places where their pay goes further.
I respectfully urge the committee to adopt Resolution 26-133.
Thank you for helping us live in the communities we serve.
Tyler Pascual, Maui Fire Department
Dear Chair Batangan, Vice-Chair U’u-Hodgins, and members of the committee,
My name is AJ Obrero. I am a Firefighter I with the Maui Fire Department and a proud HFFA Local 1463 member. I am writing in strong support of Resolution 26-133.
This resolution approves the additional cost items for the Bargaining Unit 11 collective bargaining agreement based on the settlement our members ratified with the employer group. It matters because it helps firefighters keep up with the cost of living on Maui. Our wages have not kept pace with what it actually costs to live and raise a family here, and the wage adjustments and step progression in this settlement are a real step toward closing that gap.
Approving these cost items honors the collective bargaining process and helps us keep experienced firefighters here at home instead of losing them to places where their pay goes further.
I respectfully urge the committee to adopt Resolution 26-133.
Thank you for helping us live in the communities we serve.
AJ Obrero Firefighter I Maui Fire Department
Dear chair Batangan, vice chair U U Hodgins and members of the commitee. My name is Peter Gand Fire Captain at Station 3 in Lahaina. I am writing to support Resolution 26-133 and am asking for the support from the comitee as well. The current rate of inflation had been estimated between 3 and 4 % and without approval of the supplemental agreement the current contract does not keep up with the rate of inflation, causing MFD members and their families to continue to fall behind. This is why i am asking for your support. Thank you
Aloha Maui County Council members,
Please help by voting to support the revised HFFA Union contract. This contract will help FF’s to be able to afford living and working on Maui. Currently most of the FF’s I know have a second job to supplement their salary’s. Being able to pay them a living wage with the ability to earn more in the future, will go a long way in retaining
the current younger crop of FF’s. Thank you for your past support, and we hope you will continue it.
Cameron Layer
Haiku Hi.
Dear Chair Batangan, Vice-Chair U’u-Hodgins, and members of the committee,
My name is Samuel Barlahan. I am a Fire Fighter I with the Maui Fire Department and a proud HFFA Local 1463 member. I am writing in strong support of Resolution 26-133.
This resolution approves the additional cost items for the Bargaining Unit 11 collective bargaining agreement based on the settlement our members ratified with the employer group. This resolution helps firefighters keep up with the cost of living on Maui. Our wages have not kept pace with what it actually costs to live and raise a family here, and the wage adjustments and step progression in this settlement are a real step toward closing that gap.
Approving these cost items honors the collective bargaining process and helps us keep experienced firefighters here at home instead of losing them to places where their pay goes further.
I respectfully urge the committee to adopt Resolution 26-133.
Thank you for helping us live in the communities we serve.
Samuel D Barlahan Jr, Fire Fighter I, Maui Fire Department
Dear Chair Batangan, Vice-Chair U’u-Hodgins, and members of the committee,
My name is Caleb Fuselier. I am a Firefighter 1 with the Maui Fire Department and a proud HFFA Local 1463 member. I am writing in strong support of Resolution 26-133.
This resolution approves the additional cost items for the Bargaining Unit 11 collective bargaining agreement based on the settlement our members ratified with the employer group. It matters because it helps firefighters keep up with the cost of living on Maui. Our wages have not kept pace with what it actually costs to live and raise a family here, and the wage adjustments and step progression in this settlement are a real step toward closing that gap.
Approving these cost items honors the collective bargaining process and helps us keep experienced firefighters here at home instead of losing them to places where their pay goes further.
I respectfully urge the committee to adopt Resolution 26-133.
Thank you for helping us live in the communities we serve.
FF1 Caleb Fuselier, Maui Fire Department
Dear Chair Batangan, Vice-Chair U’u-Hodgins, and members of the committee,
My name is Noa Kalanihuia. I am a Firefighter III with the Maui Fire Department and a HFFA Local 1463 member. I am writing in strong support of Resolution 26-133.
This resolution approves the additional cost items for the Bargaining Unit 11 collective bargaining agreement based on the settlement our members ratified with the employer group. It matters because it helps firefighters keep up with the cost of living on Maui. Our wages have not kept pace with what it actually costs to live and raise a family here, and the wage adjustments and step progression in this settlement are a real step toward closing that gap.
Approving these cost items honors the collective bargaining process and helps us keep experienced firefighters here at home instead of losing them to places where their pay goes further.
I respectfully urge the committee to adopt Resolution 26-133.
Thank you for helping us live in the communities we serve.
FFIII Noa Kalanihuia,
Maui Fire Department
Dear Chair Batangan, Vice-Chair U’u-Hodgins, and members of the committee,
My name is Richard Sato. I am a Firefighter III with the Maui Fire Department and a proud HFFA Local 1463 member. I am writing in strong support of Resolution 26-133.
This resolution approves the additional cost items for the Bargaining Unit 11 collective bargaining agreement based on the settlement our members ratified with the employer group. It matters because it helps firefighters keep up with the cost of living on Maui. Our wages have not kept pace with what it actually costs to live and raise a family here, and the wage adjustments and step progression in this settlement are a real step toward closing that gap.
Approving these cost items honors the collective bargaining process and helps us keep experienced firefighters here at home instead of losing them to places where their pay goes further.
I respectfully urge the committee to adopt Resolution 26-133.
Thank you for helping us live in the communities we serve.
Richard Sato Firefighter III Maui Fire Department
Dear Chair Batangan, Vice-Chair U'u-Hodgins, and members of the committee,
My name is Tanner Mosher. I am a seven-year firefighter with the Maui Fire Department and the Maui Division Chair for HFFA Local 1463. I am writing in strong support of Resolution 26-133.
This resolution approves the additional cost items from the settlement that came out of our mediation. I want the committee to understand what got us here. Every contract our bargaining unit has negotiated has ended up in arbitration, and every time, the case comes down to the same thing: fighting for numbers to at the very least keep up with cost of living in Hawaii.
The numbers behind it are straightforward. Over the last ten years our wages grew 23.3 percent while the consumer price index grew roughly 35 percent. That is about $7,370 a year in purchasing power that a Maui firefighter has quietly lost. Nationally our pay sits near the 50th percentile, and once you adjust for what it costs to live here, we fall below the 40th. We are asking to catch up, not to get ahead.
You can see the cost of falling behind in who applies. In 2017 the department drew over 2,500 applicants. In 2025, 682 applied to take the written test, only 472 showed up for it, and 196 passed.
The passing standard tells the rest of the story. In 2017 you needed a score over 75 just to get called for the physical. In 2025 we are passing people in the 50's, because that is what it takes to fill a physical agility test. That is not a standards problem. That is what happens when the job no longer pays enough to live here and provide for your family.
Most of us do not leave. If we walk away, we lose everything we have paid into a career of serving this community. And the truth is we do not want to go. We stay because we care about this place and because we want to save lives here. That should not mean accepting less every year.
This did not happen overnight. Our wages and benefits have gotten worse year after year. Our pension is worth less than it was, and the years it takes to retire keep getting longer. Every one of those things shows up in our applicant numbers. It also shows up at home, in the stress and the hardship our families carry so that we can keep serving the community we love.
The wage adjustments and the step progression in this settlement are a great step in the right direction.
I respectfully urge the committee to adopt Resolution 26-133. Thank you for helping us live in the communities we serve.
Tanner Mosher
Maui Fire Fighter
Maui Division Chair, HFFA Local 1463
Aloha Maui Fire Fam,
Help get our wage adjustments, and get our steps back!!!
Resolution 26-133 is up TODAY, Tuesday August 18, at 1:30 p.m. before the Government Relations, Ethics, and Transparency Committee. This is the resolution that authorizes our mediation settlement and approves the additional cost items for our BU-11 contract, July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2029. That means the wage adjustments and our step system back.
We need written testimony in support before 1:30. No account needed, you can submit as a guest. It takes two minutes.
Go to the agenda item: https://mauicounty.granicusideas.com/meetings/2432-government-relations-ethics-and-transparency-committee-2025-2027-on-2026-08-18-1-30-pm/agenda_items/6a7ceae0f395e714f5001053-great-11-35-reso-26-133-resolution-26-133-settle
1. Fill in your name and email in the guest fields, you
2. Select Support
3. Paste the template below, add your name and rank, and submit
Testimony template:
Dear Chair Batangan, Vice-Chair U’u-Hodgins, and members of the committee,
My name is Micah K PALMERTON. I am a FIRE FIGHTER III (Driver/Apparatus Operator) with the Maui Fire Department and a proud HFFA Local 1463 member. I am writing in strong support of Resolution 26-133.
This resolution approves the additional cost items for the Bargaining Unit 11 collective bargaining agreement based on the settlement our members ratified with the employer group. It matters because it helps firefighters keep up with the cost of living on Maui. Our wages have not kept pace with what it actually costs to live and raise a family here, and the wage adjustments and step progression in this settlement are a real step toward closing that gap.
Approving these cost items honors the collective bargaining process and helps us keep experienced firefighters here at home instead of losing them to places where their pay goes further.
I respectfully urge the committee to adopt Resolution 26-133.
Thank you for helping us live in the communities we serve.
Micah K Palmerton, FFIII, Maui Fire Department
Dear Chair Batangan, Vice-Chair U’u-Hodgins, and members of the committee,
My name is Kala’iku Pokini I am a Firefighter 1 with the Maui Fire Department and a proud HFFA Local 1463 member. I am writing in strong support of Resolution 26-133.
This resolution approves the additional cost items for the Bargaining Unit 11 collective bargaining agreement based on the settlement our members ratified with the employer group. It matters because it helps firefighters keep up with the cost of living on Maui. Our wages have not kept pace with what it actually costs to live and raise a family here, and the wage adjustments and step progression in this settlement are a real step toward closing that gap.
Approving these cost items honors the collective bargaining process and helps us keep experienced firefighters here at home instead of losing them to places where their pay goes further.
I respectfully urge the committee to adopt Resolution 26-133.
Thank you for helping us live in the communities we serve.
Kalaiku Pokini, Firefighter 1, Maui Fire Department
Dear Chair Batangan, Vice-Chair U’u-Hodgins, and Members of the Committee,
My name is Jordan Boswell, a Fire Fighter III with the Maui Fire Department and a proud HFFA Local 1463 member. I am writing in strong support of Resolution 26-133.
As a firefighter and a father living on Molokai, I see firsthand how difficult it is becoming to support a family. The cost of groceries, housing, utilities, and everyday necessities continues to rise, while our wages struggle to keep up. This settlement provides meaningful wage adjustments and step progression that will help firefighters like me better provide for our families.
Supporting this resolution also helps us retain experienced firefighters and continue serving the communities we call home.
I respectfully urge you to approve Resolution 26-133.
Thank you for your support.
Jordan Boswell
Fire Fighter III
Maui Fire Department
Dear Chair Batangan, Vice-Chair U’u-Hodgins, and members of the committee,
My name is Shawn Kiesel. I am a Fire Fighter with the Maui County Fire Department and a proud HFFA Local 1463 member. I am writing in strong support of Resolution 26-133.
This resolution approves the additional cost items for the Bargaining Unit 11 collective bargaining agreement based on the settlement our members ratified with the employer group. It matters because it helps firefighters keep up with the cost of living on Maui. Our wages have not kept pace with what it actually costs to live and raise a family here, and the wage adjustments and step progression in this settlement are a real step toward closing that gap.
Approving these cost items honors the collective bargaining process and helps us keep experienced firefighters here at home instead of losing them to places where their pay goes further.
My children are already planning to move elsewhere because the cost of living is so high. I used to work three jobs. I now work two jobs. Being a fire fighter and having to own a garage door business has been a blessing, but even my wife has had to go back to full time work to keep up with the cost of living. Most people I know work two jobs to survive. It is sad to see our oldest child leaving home because they cannot afford to stay here and have their own home.
I respectfully urge the committee to adopt Resolution 26-133.
Thank you for helping us live in the communities we serve.
Shawn Kiesel, Fire Fighter, Maui Fire Department
Writing in strong support of 26-133
Adjusted for inflation we earn significantly less than 5 years ago. This would help with the cost of living in the community we serve
R. Worcester FF1 MFD
Dear Mr. chair and County council,
Aloha my name is Scott Martin, I am writing in support of resolution 26-133 fair wages for Firefigjters.
1 year ago F irefighters went out of contract. SHOPO was able to get the largest pay raise any of the first responders have had as far as I can remember without even having to go to arbitration. After 1 year Firefighters received the worst contract I can remember in my 27 years of service. I’m definitely thankful that we didn’t have to wait four years for a contract update like we did between 2000 and 2004 that year we received a 24% raise. The public could not believe the amount, but if you think about it that was only 3% over eight year period. Barely keeping up with inflation and the cost of living. The contract that the arbitration decided on was very minimal and took away many of the benefits of the firefighters. Since the announcement and explanation of the contract, the morale of the Fire Dept has been at the lowest I’ve seen.
You as the county Council and the Mayor as the stewards of the county have the option to do what is right and just for the firefighters through this resolution. This resolution would be a step towards maintaining status quo with our benefits and would at least boost the morale a little bit.
I implore you as I said earlier to do what is right just into grant the firefighters what they deserve. I am on the last leg of my years of service. However, I will always support the Fire Dept and all of its members.
I appreciate your time and consideration to this matter. May God bless you and have a blessed day Aloha.
Dear Chair Batangan, Vice-Chair U’u-Hodgins, and members of the committee,
My name isTerry Gumz FFIII with the Maui Fire Department and a proud HFFA Local 1463 member. I have served as a firefighter for 19 years. I am writing in strong support of Resolution 26-133.
This resolution approves the additional cost items for the Bargaining Unit 11 collective bargaining agreement based on the settlement our members ratified with the employer group. It matters because it helps firefighters keep up with the cost of living on Maui. Our wages have not kept pace with what it actually costs to live and raise a family here, and the wage adjustments and step progression in this settlement are a real step toward closing that gap. We all know how the cost of living has far outpaced our wages.
Approving these cost items honors the collective bargaining process and helps us keep experienced firefighters here at home instead of losing them to places where their pay goes further. I have been considering a move to the mainland because I can barley afford to live here on Maui. I am dipping into my retirement account every month to make up for inflation.
I respectfully urge the committee to adopt Resolution 26-133.
Thank you for helping us live in the communities we serve.
Terry Gumz FFIII Maui Fire department
Dear Chair Batangan, Vice-Chair U’u-Hodgins, and members of the committee,
My name is Ikaika Blackburn. I am a Captain with the Maui Fire Department and a proud HFFA Local 1463 member. I am writing in strong support of Resolution 26-133.
This resolution approves the additional cost items for the Bargaining Unit 11 collective bargaining agreement based on the settlement our members ratified with the employer group. It matters because it helps firefighters keep up with the cost of living on Maui. Our wages have not kept pace with what it actually costs to live and raise a family here, and the wage adjustments and step progression in this settlement are a real step toward closing that gap.
Approving these cost items honors the collective bargaining process and helps us keep experienced firefighters here at home instead of losing them to places where their pay goes further.
I respectfully urge the committee to adopt Resolution 26-133.
Thank you for helping us live in the communities we serve.
Ikaika Blackburn
Captain
Maui Fire Department
Dear Chair Batangan, Vice-Chair U’u-Hodgins, and members of the committee,
My name is Pueo Maioho. I am writing in strong support of Resolution 26 - 133
As a firefighter’s wife living on Molokaʻi, I see firsthand how difficult it can be to make a living and raise a family here. The cost of housing, groceries, gas, and everyday necessities continues to rise, while our firefighters’ wages have not always kept pace with the true cost of living in our communities.
The wage adjustments and step progression included in this settlement are an important step toward addressing that gap. These men and women put so much into serving and protecting our communities, often working long hours, spending time away from their families, and sometimes laying down their lives. They deserve fair compensation that allows them to support their families while continuing to serve the people of Hawaiʻi.
Living on Molokaʻi also brings its own challenges. We are an island community with limited resources, high costs, and fewer opportunities for families. When experienced firefighters leave because they can no longer afford to stay, it affects not only their families but also the communities they have dedicated themselves to serving.
Approving these cost items honors the collective bargaining process and helps retain experienced firefighters here at home. It gives our firefighters a better opportunity to build a life, raise their families, and continue serving the communities that depend on them.
As a wife, I respectfully urge the committee to adopt Resolution 26-133 and support the firefighters and their families who make sacrifices every day to protect our communities.
Thank you for recognizing the importance of fairly supporting the people who serve and protect us, and for helping our families continue to live and serve in the communities we call home.
Pueo Maioho
Dear Chair Batangan, Vice-Chair U’u-Hodgins, and members of the committee,
My name is Brian Park. I am a Firefighter I with the Maui Fire Department and a proud HFFA Local 1463 member. I am writing in strong support of Resolution 26-133.
This resolution approves the additional cost items for the Bargaining Unit 11 collective bargaining agreement based on the settlement our members ratified with the employer group. It matters because it helps firefighters keep up with the cost of living on Maui. Our wages have not kept pace with what it actually costs to live and raise a family here, and the wage adjustments and step progression in this settlement are a real step toward closing that gap.
Approving these cost items honors the collective bargaining process and helps us keep experienced firefighters here at home instead of losing them to places where their pay goes further.
I respectfully urge the committee to adopt Resolution 26-133.
Thank you for helping us live in the communities we serve.
Brian Park
FFI, Maui Fire Department
Dear Chair Batangan, Vice-Chair U’u-Hodgins, and members of the committee,
My name is Kellen Yap. I am a Firefighter III with the Maui Fire Department and a proud HFFA Local 1463 member. I am writing in strong support of Resolution 26-133.
This resolution approves the additional cost items for the Bargaining Unit 11 collective bargaining agreement based on the settlement our members ratified with the employer group. It matters because it helps firefighters keep up with the cost of living on Maui. Our wages have not kept pace with what it actually costs to live and raise a family here, and the wage adjustments and step progression in this settlement are a real step toward closing that gap.
Approving these cost items honors the collective bargaining process and helps us keep experienced firefighters here at home instead of losing them to places where their pay goes further.
I respectfully urge the committee to adopt Resolution 26-133.
Thank you for helping us live in the communities we serve.
Kellen Yap, Firefighter III, Maui Fire Department
Dear Chair Batangan, Vice-Chair U’u-Hodgins, and members of the committee,
My name is Tyler Pascual . I am a member with the Maui Fire Department and a proud HFFA Local 1463 member. I am writing in strong support of Resolution 26-133.
This resolution approves the additional cost items for the Bargaining Unit 11 collective bargaining agreement based on the settlement our members ratified with the employer group. It matters because it assists firefighters to keep up with the constant increases in the cost of living on Maui. Our wages have not remotely kept pace with what it actually costs to confidently live and raise a family here, and the wage adjustments and step progression in this settlement are a fair step toward closing that gap.
Approving these cost items honors the collective bargaining process and helps us keep experienced firefighters here at home instead of losing them to places where their pay goes further.
I respectfully urge the committee to adopt Resolution 26-133.
Thank you for helping us live in the communities we serve.
Tyler Pascual, Maui Fire Department
Dear Chair Batangan, Vice-Chair U’u-Hodgins, and members of the committee,
My name is AJ Obrero. I am a Firefighter I with the Maui Fire Department and a proud HFFA Local 1463 member. I am writing in strong support of Resolution 26-133.
This resolution approves the additional cost items for the Bargaining Unit 11 collective bargaining agreement based on the settlement our members ratified with the employer group. It matters because it helps firefighters keep up with the cost of living on Maui. Our wages have not kept pace with what it actually costs to live and raise a family here, and the wage adjustments and step progression in this settlement are a real step toward closing that gap.
Approving these cost items honors the collective bargaining process and helps us keep experienced firefighters here at home instead of losing them to places where their pay goes further.
I respectfully urge the committee to adopt Resolution 26-133.
Thank you for helping us live in the communities we serve.
AJ Obrero Firefighter I Maui Fire Department
Dear chair Batangan, vice chair U U Hodgins and members of the commitee. My name is Peter Gand Fire Captain at Station 3 in Lahaina. I am writing to support Resolution 26-133 and am asking for the support from the comitee as well. The current rate of inflation had been estimated between 3 and 4 % and without approval of the supplemental agreement the current contract does not keep up with the rate of inflation, causing MFD members and their families to continue to fall behind. This is why i am asking for your support. Thank you
Aloha Maui County Council members,
Please help by voting to support the revised HFFA Union contract. This contract will help FF’s to be able to afford living and working on Maui. Currently most of the FF’s I know have a second job to supplement their salary’s. Being able to pay them a living wage with the ability to earn more in the future, will go a long way in retaining
the current younger crop of FF’s. Thank you for your past support, and we hope you will continue it.
Cameron Layer
Haiku Hi.
Dear Chair Batangan, Vice-Chair U’u-Hodgins, and members of the committee,
My name is Samuel Barlahan. I am a Fire Fighter I with the Maui Fire Department and a proud HFFA Local 1463 member. I am writing in strong support of Resolution 26-133.
This resolution approves the additional cost items for the Bargaining Unit 11 collective bargaining agreement based on the settlement our members ratified with the employer group. This resolution helps firefighters keep up with the cost of living on Maui. Our wages have not kept pace with what it actually costs to live and raise a family here, and the wage adjustments and step progression in this settlement are a real step toward closing that gap.
Approving these cost items honors the collective bargaining process and helps us keep experienced firefighters here at home instead of losing them to places where their pay goes further.
I respectfully urge the committee to adopt Resolution 26-133.
Thank you for helping us live in the communities we serve.
Samuel D Barlahan Jr, Fire Fighter I, Maui Fire Department
Dear Chair Batangan, Vice-Chair U’u-Hodgins, and members of the committee,
My name is Caleb Fuselier. I am a Firefighter 1 with the Maui Fire Department and a proud HFFA Local 1463 member. I am writing in strong support of Resolution 26-133.
This resolution approves the additional cost items for the Bargaining Unit 11 collective bargaining agreement based on the settlement our members ratified with the employer group. It matters because it helps firefighters keep up with the cost of living on Maui. Our wages have not kept pace with what it actually costs to live and raise a family here, and the wage adjustments and step progression in this settlement are a real step toward closing that gap.
Approving these cost items honors the collective bargaining process and helps us keep experienced firefighters here at home instead of losing them to places where their pay goes further.
I respectfully urge the committee to adopt Resolution 26-133.
Thank you for helping us live in the communities we serve.
FF1 Caleb Fuselier, Maui Fire Department
Dear Chair Batangan, Vice-Chair U’u-Hodgins, and members of the committee,
My name is Noa Kalanihuia. I am a Firefighter III with the Maui Fire Department and a HFFA Local 1463 member. I am writing in strong support of Resolution 26-133.
This resolution approves the additional cost items for the Bargaining Unit 11 collective bargaining agreement based on the settlement our members ratified with the employer group. It matters because it helps firefighters keep up with the cost of living on Maui. Our wages have not kept pace with what it actually costs to live and raise a family here, and the wage adjustments and step progression in this settlement are a real step toward closing that gap.
Approving these cost items honors the collective bargaining process and helps us keep experienced firefighters here at home instead of losing them to places where their pay goes further.
I respectfully urge the committee to adopt Resolution 26-133.
Thank you for helping us live in the communities we serve.
FFIII Noa Kalanihuia,
Maui Fire Department
Dear Chair Batangan, Vice-Chair U’u-Hodgins, and members of the committee,
My name is Richard Sato. I am a Firefighter III with the Maui Fire Department and a proud HFFA Local 1463 member. I am writing in strong support of Resolution 26-133.
This resolution approves the additional cost items for the Bargaining Unit 11 collective bargaining agreement based on the settlement our members ratified with the employer group. It matters because it helps firefighters keep up with the cost of living on Maui. Our wages have not kept pace with what it actually costs to live and raise a family here, and the wage adjustments and step progression in this settlement are a real step toward closing that gap.
Approving these cost items honors the collective bargaining process and helps us keep experienced firefighters here at home instead of losing them to places where their pay goes further.
I respectfully urge the committee to adopt Resolution 26-133.
Thank you for helping us live in the communities we serve.
Richard Sato Firefighter III Maui Fire Department
Dear Chair Batangan, Vice-Chair U'u-Hodgins, and members of the committee,
My name is Tanner Mosher. I am a seven-year firefighter with the Maui Fire Department and the Maui Division Chair for HFFA Local 1463. I am writing in strong support of Resolution 26-133.
This resolution approves the additional cost items from the settlement that came out of our mediation. I want the committee to understand what got us here. Every contract our bargaining unit has negotiated has ended up in arbitration, and every time, the case comes down to the same thing: fighting for numbers to at the very least keep up with cost of living in Hawaii.
The numbers behind it are straightforward. Over the last ten years our wages grew 23.3 percent while the consumer price index grew roughly 35 percent. That is about $7,370 a year in purchasing power that a Maui firefighter has quietly lost. Nationally our pay sits near the 50th percentile, and once you adjust for what it costs to live here, we fall below the 40th. We are asking to catch up, not to get ahead.
You can see the cost of falling behind in who applies. In 2017 the department drew over 2,500 applicants. In 2025, 682 applied to take the written test, only 472 showed up for it, and 196 passed.
The passing standard tells the rest of the story. In 2017 you needed a score over 75 just to get called for the physical. In 2025 we are passing people in the 50's, because that is what it takes to fill a physical agility test. That is not a standards problem. That is what happens when the job no longer pays enough to live here and provide for your family.
Most of us do not leave. If we walk away, we lose everything we have paid into a career of serving this community. And the truth is we do not want to go. We stay because we care about this place and because we want to save lives here. That should not mean accepting less every year.
This did not happen overnight. Our wages and benefits have gotten worse year after year. Our pension is worth less than it was, and the years it takes to retire keep getting longer. Every one of those things shows up in our applicant numbers. It also shows up at home, in the stress and the hardship our families carry so that we can keep serving the community we love.
The wage adjustments and the step progression in this settlement are a great step in the right direction.
I respectfully urge the committee to adopt Resolution 26-133. Thank you for helping us live in the communities we serve.
Tanner Mosher
Maui Fire Fighter
Maui Division Chair, HFFA Local 1463