Maui Police Department introduces new multi-mission helicopter ‘Hekili’

The Maui Police Department (MPD) has formally introduced a new multi-mission helicopter, Hekili, during a blessing ceremony at the Central Maui Regional Sports Complex. The name, which means ‘thunder’ in Hawaiian, is intended to reflect the Department’s commitment to public safety across Maui County.

The aircraft is part of an ongoing effort to enhance MPD’s air capabilities, particularly in response to operational gaps identified during and after the 2023 wildfires.

“August 8th occurred, [and] in the aftermath and the multiple after-actions, it was very clear that we in Maui County had to expand and enhance our air unit capabilities,” said Chief John Pelletier.

Previously, MPD operated without a dedicated helicopter, relying on the Maui Fire Department’s (MFD) AIR 1, which is primarily tasked with fire suppression. According to MFD’s After Action Report, limited air support capacity hampered emergency operations, and the addition of a second aircraft could double initial aerial firefighting output from 250 to 500gal.

Hekili is configured for a range of public safety missions and will be used jointly by MPD and MFD. It features twin engines for redundancy, a rescue hoist and external cargo certification for technical rescues, and the capacity to transport up to 10 personnel. The aircraft is also equipped for wildfire response with a 250gal water bucket and includes a Trakka Systems suite for search and surveillance missions. Night operations are supported by night vision goggles (NVG) compatibility and Garmin 500H synthetic vision systems.

MPD credits Windward Aviation for its role in outfitting and maintaining the aircraft to meet operational needs.

The helicopter is intended to strengthen both law enforcement and emergency response functions across Maui County.

Earlier this year, Coulson Aviation announced the expansion of its C-130H Hercules fleet to 10 aircraft for aerial firefighting.