Emergency Response and Evacuation

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Emergency Response

In the event of an emergency on any campus, UH Hilo personnel (mainly safety and/or security personnel) will respond and generally are first on scene. The Incident Command System (ICS) is utilized when responding to an emergency. The ICS provides standard procedures for the confirmation of and response to an emergency.

Depending on the nature of the emergency, members of the Crisis Management Team will be notified and will report to the Emergency Operations Center. The UH Hilo Administration Intake Team will keep the UH Hilo Crisis Management Team apprised of the situation. UH Hilo will request assistance from outside law enforcement agencies or other response organizations and will coordinate response efforts.

Immediate Notification

Upon confirmation of a significant emergency or dangerous situation involving an immediate threat to the health or safety of students or employees occurring on campus, UH Hilo will, without delay and taking into account the safety of the community, determine the content of the notification and initiate the notification system for all or a segment of the campus, unless issuing a notification will, in the judgment of responsible authorities, compromise efforts to assist a victim or to contain, respond to or otherwise mitigate the emergency.

Responsible authorities, who can confirm a significant emergency or dangerous situation and draft and issue an immediate notification, include:

• Chancellor
• Vice Chancellor for Administrative Affairs
• Director of Campus Security
• Environmental Health & Safety Officer
• Campus Designees
• Director of Auxiliary Services

Depending on the nature of the emergency, one or more notification systems may be utilized. These systems include, but are not limited to:

• Text messages
• UH email system
• Local media
• Social Media
• Building fire alarms
• Emergency Announcement Systems

UH maintains an opt-in emergency notification system – UH Alert – that may be used for immediate notifications via email and text messages. Pre-scripted messages have been developed and will be used – with appropriate modifications – during emergency situations.

All immediate notifications will have at least one follow-up message (i.e., the “All Clear” message). Generally, the follow-up messages will be issued utilizing the same notification systems as the initial notification. However, word-of-mouth, the UH Hilo website or other means may be utilized when appropriate.

The public information officer or designee may communicate with local media such as newspapers, television stations and radio stations to disseminate emergency information to the surrounding community. The public information officer will provide a statement for posting additional information on the UH Hilo website, which is another possible source for the larger community to obtain such information.

Campus Evacuation Procedures

The UH Hilo chancellor or designee will authorize campus evacuation orders. Once an evacuation order has been given, students and employees should follow the instructions and timelines for leaving the campus and should alert others to do the same. Information about returning to campus will be communicated through the UH Hilo webpage.

Building Evacuation Procedures

An evacuation will occur when the fire alarm sounds and/or notification is given by appropriate personnel. All persons (students, employees and visitors) are to immediately vacate the building in as safe a manner as possible. All persons should follow orders given by UH Hilo officers at the scene. Personnel shall not return to an evacuated building until instructed by UH Hilo security or other appropriate officials. Evacuation drills are conducted periodically for on campus buildings. The building evacuation is documented and reviewed by the Office of Environmental Health and Safety.

UH Hilo Crisis Management Team Members

• Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
• Vice Chancellor for Administrative Affairs
• Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
• Director of Campus Security
• Environmental Health & Safety Officer
• Director of University Relations
• Human Resources Office
• Director of Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action

Testing Emergency Response and Evacuation Procedures

UH Hilo tests its emergency response and evacuation procedures as defined in the Clery Act on an annual basis. UH Hilo conducts a drill, an exercise and publicizes its emergency response and evacuation procedures via campus email annually. A description of the drill is documented and an after-action report is completed and kept by the Emergency Management/Business Continuity Coordinator.

Fire Safety Report

UH Hilo Fire Safety Report is now published with the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report and is available at the Security Office 24 hours a day or online.

Missing Students

The UH Hilo takes student safety seriously. The following policy and procedures have been established to assist in locating missing UH Hilo students who reside in on‐campus housing. The purpose of this policy and procedures is to promote the safety and welfare of UH Hilo students in accordance with the requirements of the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008.

Procedures for Reporting a Missing Student

If an individual has reason to believe that a student who legally resides in on‐campus housing is missing, he/she should immediately notify Campus Security, (808) 974‐7911, the Dean of Students (808) 932-7472, or the University Housing Office (808) 974‐7522. This team will work together to share information under the leadership and coordination of the Director of Campus Security.

For students who do not reside on-campus and are reported missing, the University may provide reasonable response and assistance as resources and time allow.

Investigating a Report of a Missing Student

Upon receiving information that a student cannot be located and may be missing, the Director of Campus Security in collaboration with University Housing personnel and the Dean of Students will initiate an investigation. Before presuming that the student is missing, reasonable measures will be taken to determine whether or not anyone familiar with the student has seen or heard from him/her recently or is aware of where he/she may be. Investigating a missing student report includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• Obtain information from the reporting individual about the student, such as a physical description, including clothes he/she may have been wearing when last seen; who he/she may be with or where he/she may be; his/her physical and mental well-being; and the reasons he/she believes the student is missing. (Campus Security Director)
• Attempt to contact the student via his/her cell phone (if available) and/or email address. (Dean of Students)
• Check the student’s room to see if he/she is present. (University Housing personnel)
• Contact University Housing Community Coordinators, roommates, friends, employers, and members of clubs and organizations the student may be affiliated with, if known, to obtain information about when and where the student was last seen and if the student’s absence is inconsistent with his/her established patterns of behavior. (University Housing personnel)
• Contact the student’s professors to ascertain the student’s recent attendance in class. (Dean of Students)
• Obtain a photograph of the student, if available, from student ID card records and use this information (and/or the physical description) to conduct a search, with the possible assistance from University Housing personnel or others, of campus and buildings where the student has classes. The Campus Security Director may issue an ID card photograph to personnel involved to assist in the identification of the missing student. (Campus Security Director)
• Contact the Parking Office to determine if the student has a vehicle registered on campus; if the student has a vehicle, Campus Security officers will attempt to locate the vehicle on campus. (Campus Security officers)

Notifying Appropriate Persons of a Report of a Missing Student

If the student cannot be located after reasonable efforts, the following individuals will be notified no later than 24 hours after the student has been determined to be missing:

• The Dean of Students will contact the Confidential Contact identified by the student (see below).
• If the missing student is under the age of 18 and is not an emancipated individual, the Dean of Students will notify the student’s custodial parent or legal guardian.
• The Director of Campus Security will notify the local law enforcement agency.
• The Dean of Students will notify the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs.

This policy does not preclude the University from implementing the procedures described above in less than 24 hours if circumstances warrant a faster implementation.

Confidential Contact

Students residing in on‐campus housing have the option to confidentially identify an individual to be contacted by UH Hilo in the event he/she is determined to be missing for more than 24 hours. Students will be provided the option of designating a confidential contact at the time he/she checks in to a residence hall. Students will be informed at that time that:

• if they identify such an individual, UH Hilo will notify that person no later than 24 hours after they have been determined to be missing
• if they are under age 18 and are not an emancipated individual at the time they are determined to be missing, UH Hilo will notify the student’s custodial parent or legal guardian
• even if they do not provide a contact person, the University will notify local law enforcement that they have been determined to be missing
• The confidential contact information will be accessible only by authorized campus officials and law enforcement officers in furtherance of a missing person investigation.

Student Notification of this Policy

In addition to informing resident students of this policy at the time they check in to a residence hall, the University will notify students of this policy and procedures through the following methods:

• Posting it on the UH Hilo, University Housing, Campus Security, and Student Rights and Responsibilities websites
• Discussing it with resident students by University Housing personnel at the beginning of the academic year in residence hall meetings

External Communications

In cases of a missing student, local law enforcement agency may provide information to the media that is designed to obtain public assistance in the search for a missing student. In doing so, the local law enforcement agency will consult with UH Hilo University Relations. Any media requests to the University will be directed to the University Relations office.

Contact Information

Emergency Response

Police/Fire/Ambulance: 911
Campus Security: (808) 974-7911

Campus Services and Support

Student Medical Services

(808) 932-7369, Campus Center Room 212

Medical Services provides follow-up treatment and care, including referral for a forensic medical examination at the Hilo Medical Center. The student can also be evaluated at Student Health Services for emergency contraception and testing for some sexually transmitted infections. For tests not conducted at Student Health Services, the Nurse will assist with arrangements for testing at an outside laboratory.

Counseling Services

(808) 932-7465, New Student Services Center, 2nd floor, Room E203

The Counseling Center offers continuing supportive individual counseling including support for traumatic events such as sexual assault as well as referrals to other mental health services. When you contact the Counseling Center, you may request to work with a female or male counselor.

Women’s Center

(808) 932-7381, New Student Services Center, 2nd floor, Room E223/E224

The Women’s Center can assist a student who reports a sexual assault with initial consultation and information about available on- and off-campus services. The staff works to support a student who has been victimized at her/his request, through the reporting and investigation process.

University Housing

(808) 932-7406, PB 11 Room 5

University Housing staff members are trained to assist students who are residents with resources and referrals. Staff members will assist with connecting students to vital care and support services.

Dean of Students Office

(808) 932-7472 or (808) 932-7470, Student Services Building Room W301

Students who have been assaulted by a UH Hilo student may report the incident to the Dean of Students office, which will investigate the matter and hold students who are found responsible accountable for their actions.

Off-Campus Services and Support

Hawaiʻi Police Department

349 Kapi‘olani Street, Hilo, HI 96720

• Emergency: 911 (TDD accessible) / Non-emergency (808) 935-3311
• Crime Stoppers: Hilo (808) 961-8300 / Kona (808) 329-8181
• Vice/Drug Tip Hotline: Hilo (808) 934-8423 / Kona (808) 329-0423
• Information about arrested adults: (808) 961-2213
• Reports/Police Records: East Hawaiʻi (808) 961-2233 / West Hawaiʻi (808) 326-4646, ext. 256
• Community Policing: East Hawaiʻi (808) 961-2350 / West Hawaiʻi (808) 326-4646, ext. 259
• Email: copsysop@co.hawaii.hi.us
• Website: www.hawaiipolice.com

24-Hour Sexual Assault Crisis Line

(808) 935-0677

Sexual Assault Support Services (SASS) supports victims/survivors of sexual assault and their significant others immediately after an assault via a 24-hour telephone line. Victims/survivors who appear at the Hilo Medical Center or Kona Hospital or report an assault to the police will receive in-person contact with an SASS staff member for support and advocacy 24 hours a day.

Victim/Witness Assistance Programs

Office of the Prosecuting Attorney

655 Kilauea Avenue, Hilo: (808) 934-3306

Assists individuals by explaining procedures and provides orientation and support to victims/survivors and witnesses through the criminal justice system. Provides information on cases, promotes public awareness of victim/witness concerns, and provides referrals to service agencies providing further assistance to victims/survivors.

Temporary Restraining Orders

(TROs) Family Court: 777 Kilauea Avenue, Hilo: (808) 961-7500
District Court: 777 Kilauea Avenue, Hilo: (808) 961-7470

Responsible for administering restraining orders, both temporary and long-term ones. For cases involving family members, relations or roommates, restraining order are handled by Family Court; all other cases are handled by District Court. Turning Point for Families (see below) provides assistance with preparing requests for restraining orders administered through Family Court.

Child & Family Services

Alternatives to Violence

1045A Kilauea Avenue, Hilo: (808) 969-7798

Peer counseling, education groups and legal help for women and children. Advocacy and help for battered women including services such as preparing and filing requests for restraining orders. Therapeutic groups for children under 12. Court-mandated groups for men/women who batter.

Domestic Abuse Shelter

Child & Family Services, 1045A Kīlauea Avenue, Hilo: (808) 959-8864

24-hour spouse abuse shelter for women and their children who are victims of spouse abuse within their household. Clients may stay up to 60 days and some transportation is provided.

National Sexual Assault Hotline

(800) 656-4673 (toll free)

24-hour access to information, resources and research regarding sexual assault.

Other University Policies

Anti-Discrimination Policy

Board of Regents Bylaws, Section 1-5 (April 21, 2011)

It is the policy of the University to provide equity of opportunity in higher education, both in the educational mission and as an employer. The University is committed to comply with all State and Federal statutes, rules, and regulations which prohibit discrimination. The University is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination on the basis of race, sex, gender identity and expression, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, disability, genetic information, marital status, breastfeeding, income assignment for child support, arrest and court record (except as permissible under State law), sexual orientation, national guard absence, or status as a covered veteran.

This policy covers admission and access to, and participation, treatment and employment in the University’s programs and activities. Discriminatory harassment, including sexual harassment, is prohibited under this policy. The University shall promote a full realization of equal opportunity through a positive, continuing program of nondiscrimination and affirmative action (41 CFR Chapter 60) on each campus.

Executive Policy EP1.202 on Nondiscrimination and Affirmative Action.

Disability Access

Contact the EEO/AA Office at eeo@hawaii.edu or your campus EEO/AA Coordinator for information on the reasonable accommodation process for applicants and employees with disabilities.

Please contact us if you would like to read the State of Hawaiʻi Accommodations for Employees with Disabilities Manual, which outlines the recommended procedures and provides accommodation request forms and medical waivers.

Program Access

Are you teaching a class? Sponsoring a public event? Organizing a workshop? Leading a field trip? Responsible for a sports event?

All university programs and activities should be accessible to persons with disabilities. Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act states: “A public entity shall furnish appropriate auxiliary aids and services where necessary to afford an individual with a disability an equal opportunity to participate in, and enjoy the benefits of, a service, program, or activity conducted by a public entity.”

You can also download the State of Hawaiʻi Programs and Services Manual For Persons with Disabilities . The manual covers customer service, auxiliary aids, sign language interpreters, facility access, service animals, registration forms, catering and banquet facilities, audio/visual presentations, safety and other elements of an accessible program.

Web access

All university programs have an obligation to ensure effective communication with persons with disabilities. This includes print media, audio media and electronic media such as the internet.

Consensual Relationships

The University of Hawaiʻi is committed to ensuring a safe, civil, working environment in which the dignity of every individual is recognized and respected. All members of the University share equal responsibility in this regard. All relationships between University employees and its students adhere to principles of professionalism, integrity, mutual trust, and respect.

The new Policy on Consensual Relationships takes a best-practice approach in recognizing and managing consensual relationships, while also balancing the privacy interests of individuals and supporting the values, mission and goals of our university.

In particular, this policy will help our campuses remain free from real or perceived conflicts when individuals in positions of unequal power are involved in consensual romantic, dating or sexual relationships. Power is unequal when one individual in a relationship has direct supervision, direction, instruction, oversight, evaluation, advisement or substantial influence over the employment or educational status of another.

• Executive Policy EP 1.203 – Policy on Consensual Relationships
• Questions & Answers on the Consensual Relationships Policy

Procedures

For guidelines on affirmative action recruitment and EEO in the hiring process, see AP9.540 Recruitment and Selection Procedures for APT and Faculty.

Search Committees

Are you serving on a search committee?

You are strongly advised to have your campus EEO/AA Coordinator provide a search committee briefing on affirmative action goals and recruitment, unlawful and lawful inquiries, confidentiality, preventing conflicts of interest and conducting background and reference checks.

Workplace Non-violence Policy

Executive Policy 9.210.

1. The University of Hawaiʻi prohibits any work related or workplace violence against its students, faculty, staff, visitors and contract employees which materially and substantially interferes with an individual’s work, academic performance, and/or workplace safety and/or otherwise subjectively and objectively creates a hostile environment. Such prohibited violent acts may involve physical attack, property damage, as well as written or verbal statements or non-verbal gestures that, to a reasonable person, express or suggest the intent to cause physical or mental harm to another person including but not limited to:
   1. hitting;
   2. pushing and shoving;
   3. throwing or breaking objects;
   4. shouting or yelling in a threatening or hostile manner;
   5. threatening gestures or remarks;
   6. disruptive or hostile actions;
   7. abusive or belligerent language;
   8. sabotage of equipment;
   9. making or sending harassing or threatening telephone calls, letters or other forms of written or electronic communications;
   10. stalking, etc.
2. All incidents must be reported and will be addressed immediately according to statutes, rules, collective bargaining agreements, or policies. Employees (i.e. faculty and staff) should report all incidents to their supervisors or campus designee. The decision to report an incident will never be questioned. The supervisor is responsible for addressing the complaint immediately in accordance with statutes or University policies.

UH Hilo Title IX Training Programs

Security Workshops and Training

UH Hilo Student Health and Wellness, Women’s and LBGTQ Centers

Identification of Clery Act Geography

Crime statistics disclosed in the ASR must include the Clery Act geography defined as on-campus, public property (within or immediately adjacent to the campus), and non-campus property owned or controlled by the University of Hawai'i at Hilo.

The list of UH Hilo properties and addresses is used to assist law enforcement agencies in reporting Clery Act crimes that occurred within the Clery Act geography. The Director of Campus Security maintains a list of all real property and addresses owned and controlled by UH Hilo and updates this list on an annual The Director of Campus Security contacts the Facilities Office to obtain a list of UH Hilo owned properties and leased properties. The Facilities Office is responsible for the geographic information system (GIS) mapping of the University of Hawai'i at Hilo campus.

Local law enforcement agencies such as the Hawai'i Police Department (HPD), are provided with the list on an annual basis for purposes of providing crime statistics to the Director of Campus Security. The Director of Campus Security distributes this list to the HPD, central station. The Director of Campus Security also obtains crime statistics on an annual basis from law enforcement agencies with jurisdiction in areas where students traveled for school-sponsored, overnight trips (i.e., hotel stays, and UH Hilo controlled classrooms).

UH Hilo Campus Security maintains a map of the UH Hilo Clery Act geography. The UH Hilo property map is assessed and prepared by the UH Hilo Facilities Director on an annual basis. This map is not required by the Clery Act and is not published, but it is used internally by Campus Security to assess and classiff crime locations.

The Director of Campus Security prepares the crime statistics. These crime statistics are presented in the ASR by year, geographic category (on-campus, public property, non-campus), and crime category. In addition, as required by the Clery Act, Campus Security Personnel updates the daily crime log on a weekly basis to include the required Clery Act elements such as the general location of the crime.

Crime Statistics

2021 Crime Statistics

Offenses reported by hierarchy

¹ Note: Residential Facility Crime Statistics are a subset of the On-Campus Category, i.e. they are counted in both categories.

VAWA Offenses

Hate Crime Reporting: There were no hate crimes reported in 2021.

¹ Note: Residential Facility Crime Statistics are a subset of the On-Campus Category, i.e. they are counted in both categories.

2020 Crime Statistics

Offenses reported by hierarchy

¹ Note: Residential Facility Crime Statistics are a subset of the On-Campus Category, i.e. they are counted in both categories.

VAWA Offenses

Hate Crime Reporting: There were no hate crimes reported in 2020.

¹ Note: Residential Facility Crime Statistics are a subset of the On-Campus Category, i.e. they are counted in both categories.

2019 Crime Statistics

Offenses reported by hierarchy

¹ Note: Residential Facility Crime Statistics are a subset of the On-Campus Category, i.e. they are counted in both categories.

VAWA Offenses

Hate Crime Reporting: There were no hate crimes reported in 2019.

¹ Note: Residential Facility Crime Statistics are a subset of the On-Campus Category, i.e. they are counted in both categories.

View crime statistics from prior years