Keepin’ us safe; New interim Civil Defense chief named

A former state Civil Defense vice director was appointed interim chief of Hawaii County Civil Defense.

Ed Teixeira, 71, started managing the department Tuesday. He replaces Darryl Oliveira who retired May 1.

“Ed Teixeira has worked for many years to keep the people of Hawaii Island safe in his role at state Civil Defense,” Mayor Billy Kenoi said in a press release. “We welcome his expertise and leadership at the helm of Hawaii County Civil Defense.”

Teixeira, a Waimea resident, also is a combat veteran who served in Vietnam, Korea, Japan and Germany. He retired as a colonel after 26 years in the U.S. Army.

Additionally, he served as the garrison commander at Pohakuloa Training Area from 1986-89.

Originally from Oahu, Teixeira started working at state Civil Defense, now known as Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, in 1996. He was named vice director in 1999, and retired from the agency in 2011.

Since then, he has worked as an instructor at Chaminade University in Honolulu and as a disaster preparedness and planning consultant.

Teixeira said he is considering applying for the permanent post, but right now is focused on getting his feet wet.

“I will do my best to serve the mayor, to serve the county,” he said.

Teixeira said Oliveira is volunteering his time to help with the transition.

“The day-and-a-half I’ve been here, I’m so impressed,” Teixeira said. “And I always felt that way about this organization.”

In the press release issued by the county, he thanked the mayor for the appointment and the opportunity to “serve the good people of Hawaii County.”

Oliveira, a former Hawaii County fire chief, oversaw Civil Defense starting in 2013. His tenure included Tropical Storm Iselle, the recent Puna lava flow and the dengue fever outbreak.

Email Tom Callis at tcallis@hawaiitribune-herald.com.