Hawaii Society of Professional Engineers Helps Defeat Charter Amendments

Two Hawaii County charter amendments that would have weakened qualification standards for critical public infrastructure roles, Bills 64 and 72, prompted a coordinated response from professional engineers and allied partners this fall. Supporters of the measures argued that current charter requirements were too restrictive and limited the pool of applicants. That claim didn't withstand scrutiny. According to data by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES), the national organization that develops engineering and surveying licensure exams and supports state licensure boards, nearly 6,000 licensed professional engineers hold licenses in Hawaii, including more than 3,100 living in the state. The depth of talent is clear, and the expertise already exists to fill senior leadership positions without reducing standards.

The Changes Behind the Controversy

Bill 64 proposed removing the requirement that the director of public works be a licensed professional engineer. The draft expanded acceptable degrees to include engineering, architecture, business, public administration, and even law, creating a general degree requirement paired with managerial experience. The department's leadership structure includes a deputy director who must be a licensed professional engineer, and supporters pointed to this as a safeguard. However, the director can override or remove the deputy, leaving public works decisions under someone who may not hold engineering licensure.

Bill 72 sought to revise qualifications for the director of environmental management by removing the requirement for an engineering or related technical degree. The amendment shifted the focus entirely to administrative experience, opening the door for leadership without the technical grounding required for decisions that carry real environmental and public health impacts.

Both changes would have reduced the technical judgment guiding decisions that keep communities safe, prevent system failures, and avoid costly mistakes.

Engineers Mobilize Across Hawaii

The Hawaii Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE-HI) led local engagement through testimony, outreach, and coalition-building. NSPE supported those efforts with strategy guidance, draft testimony, communications materials, and grassroots tools tailored for Hawaii Island.

NSPE-HI President Michael Silva, P.E., F.NSPE, L.S., submitted testimony emphasizing that leadership over public works demands technical expertise, ethical accountability, and the public protection embedded in licensure. He also addressed concerns about hiring challenges, noting the significant pool of qualified engineers across the state.

Ikaika Rodenhurst, P.E., the current NSPE-HI House of Delegates representative and former Hawaii County public works director, organized local engineers and coordinated testimony. Additionally, he submitted a letter to the editor for publication in the Hawaii Tribune-Herald to help inform residents of the potential impact of the amendments.

Curtis Beck, P.E., F.NSPE, a past NSPE-HI president, delivered in-person testimony at the committee level, bringing decades of public service experience into the discussion.

NSPE-HI also mobilized a broad coalition including NCEES and the state chapters of the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the American Public Works Association (APWA), and the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), and local chambers of commerce. Together, partners highlighted how lowering standards for public works and environmental management leadership would weaken oversight, reduce accountability, and increase long-term risk and cost.

NSPE engaged both the engineering community and the broader public to reinforce NSPE-HI's local advocacy.

A Hard-Fought Win and the Road Ahead

During its October meeting, the county council reported both Bill 64 and Bill 72 as failed. Under the county charter, substantially similar measures cannot be reintroduced during the 2024-2026 legislative cycle.

NSPE-HI continues to stay engaged with county officials and allied partners to ensure future proposals maintain strong technical standards and the level of accountability expected in roles that directly affect community safety.

Hawaii is not alone in facing these pressures. Similar proposals have appeared across the country, reflecting a broader national trend toward scaling back technical qualifications for public infrastructure leadership.

NSPE remains ready to support state societies nationwide as similar challenges surface and to reinforce the profession's role in safeguarding public safety.