All Hands on the Mauna: MKO's Coordinate Safety Plans with Local Agencies
While being on the summit may feel isolating at times, there is an entire village of first responders just a call away to ensure that Maunakea personnel are safe 24/7.
On April 4, observatory personnel - including Keck Observatory Environmental Health & Safety Officer Max Davis and Chief Public Affairs Officer Ilihia Gionson - attended a convening at Hale Pōhaku to discuss the collaboration and coordination between the Maunakea Observatories, Maunakea Rangers, and first responders.
Agencies that havea responsibility to respond to incidents on the Mauna include:
Fire: Hawai‘i County Fire Department, Pōhakuloa Fire Department, State Dept. Of Land & Natural Resources Division of Forestry & Wildlife (DLNR DOFAW)
Medical: Hawai‘i County Fire Department, Pōhakuloa Fire Department
Police: Hawai‘i County Police Department, State Dept. Of Land & Natural Resources Division of Conservation and Resource Enforcement (DLNR DOCARE)
Topics discussed at the meeting included identifying helicopter landing zones on the summit, strengthening inter-agency communication protocols, planning for future training exercises and drills, and sharing observatory emergency plans regularly with Rangers as well as the Center for Maunakea Stewardship.
“This kind of collaboration and coordination between agencies is important in any situation, but especially in a challenging landscape like Maunakea,” said Max, who was a first responder paramedic for nine years before joining Keck Observatory. “I’m stoked we had this meeting to keep the lines of communication open and plan for the kinds of incidents we hope we never face.”
“Living and working on an island, hours away from help beyond our shores, has taught our first responders how to work together really, really well in diverse conditions,” said Ilihia, whose work with Mayor Billy Kenoi at the County of Hawai‘i included extensive work with county, state, and federal public safety agencies during disaster response. “I’m excited that the observatories are working closely with them to ensure we all do our part to keep staff safe and secure.”
