Fraternal Order of Police established on Maui
The Fraternal Order of Police, the world’s largest organization of sworn law enforcement officers, now has a new Maui chapter called “Honuamaluo Maui.”
Honuamaluo Maui-FOP Lodge No. 2 will work alongside and support the “law enforcement ohana” of sworn, unsworn and retired officers, according to a news release. The organization also strives to increase public trust and improve the relationship between law enforcement and the communities it serves.
“Our purpose for Honuamaluo Maui is to set a firm foundation of continual peace for our law enforcement ohana in Maui,” the news release said. “Honua” represents a firm foundation and “maluo” means continual peace.
The organization also would like to offer benefits to its law enforcement communities that include legal representation, life insurance, medical insurance, information protection, crisis hotlines, auto loans, travel perks and free college programs that would not only cover members but their families as well.
The Fraternal Order of Police has more than 356,000 members in more than 2,100 lodges.
Maui Police Sgt. Nick Krau said an FOP Lodge in Maui County is “long overdue and very much needed.”
“As law enforcement officers, we chose a profession where so much of what we do is unpredictable and inconsistent,” Krau added.
He noted that the popularity and support of law enforcement officers nationwide is decreasing, and the force is also getting hit with issues such as staffing shortages due to COVID-19 along with the constantly changing pandemic mandates that police need to enforce. These and other issues have “led to an even lower level of morale for many officers and has left many officers feeling like they don’t have a voice,” explained Krau, who said he wanted to relieve the strain on officers and their families.
“We need some place outside of the department where we can gather and support each other and our families,” he said. “Because if we don’t take care of each other, no one will.”
Krau said he researched and reached out to others nationwide, and when he knew enough about the fraternal order, he approached Maui Police Assistant Chief Clyde Holokai. With the help of Holokai and others they were able to establish the Maui lodge.
The current Board of Directors are: President Clyde Holokai, First Vice President Reid Pursley, Second Vice President Nick Krau, Third Vice President Dumitru Vandici, Sergeantat-Arms Brandon Rodrigues, Treasurer Korey Harris, Secretary Seanelle Esperanza, Lodge Trustee Anthony Krau, Commission of Trustees Stephen Kelly and James “Brad” Taylor.
There is no physical location for the lodge yet, but Nick Krau said they hope to open membership to others within the next 30 days.
For information and questions, see fop.net/ or email fopmaui@gmail.com. The order is also on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
‘Our purpose for Honuamaluo Maui is to set a firm foundation of continual peace for our law enforcement ohana in Maui.’
– The Fraternal Order of Police