Honolulu's new police chief says his five-year plan includes "restructuring" the department, increasing community service and boosting morale, including possibly bringing back a popular three-day, 12-hour work schedule for some police officers.

"I bring a new vision, (and) ability to bring people together," Capt. Louis Kealoha said yesterday in his first interview after being unanimously picked as the 10th chief of the Honolulu Police Department.

Kealoha said he wants to work quickly to address concerns at HPD. Chief among his issues to address is morale, which he said "could be better."

"We're looking for a friendly climate" at HPD, Kealoha said.

Kealoha, who the police commission picked after about a half-hour of discussion yesterday, was the rank-and-file favorite to head up HPD. He takes the top spot amid a worsening budget crisis and after a rocky few years under former Chief Boisse Correa, who left in August after the commission did not renew his contract.

Kealoha was chosen from a pool of six finalists and will take over a department with about 2,500 employees (about 2,000 of whom are officers), a budget of more than $200 million and an organization with more than 100 vacancies for police officers.

Police commission Chairwoman Christine Camp said Kealoha will have to make some tough decisions early on in his tenure, as he grapples with how to tackle a fiscal crunch that will almost certainly result in "significant cutbacks" at the department.

"The department will be facing some major challenges financially," Camp said.

DISPUTE OVER PICKS

The police commission's decision came yesterday amid a controversy over how finalists for the chief position were selected. Two weeks ago, the commission named six finalists for chief, even though a selection committee recommended only four candidates. Two of the selection committee members then resigned in protest.

Kealoha was one of the four on the selection committee's list.

Camp, who went before the City Council yesterday to answer questions on the selection process, said she is confident each candidate was treated fairly.

"We believe we had a fully vetted process," Camp said.

Kealoha, 49, will earn $136,000 as chief — the same as his predecessor. His start date, for a five-year term, has not yet been decided.

Tenari Ma'afala, president of the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers, applauded the commission's pick of Kealoha, who currently heads the Juvenile Services Division.

"We believe the right choice was made," Ma'afala said.

He said he hopes the new chief will work quickly to address morale problems at the department.

"I think what will make that happen is open communication," he said.

Cmdr. Gary Yamashiroya, of the Chicago Police Department, was vying for the chief's spot, but said yesterday Kealoha was a solid choice.

"I think he's going to do a great job for Honolulu," Yamashiroya said by phone. "I'd like to congratulate him."

Mayor Mufi Hannemann called Kealoha an "exceptional leader."

"I'm looking forward to collaborating with him," Hannemann said in a statement.

CONCERNS RAISED

During the commission meeting yesterday, there were concerns raised about Kealoha's experience. He is the first captain to be picked to head HPD since former Chief Michael Nakamura in 1990. During the meeting, commissioner Craig Watase questioned whether Kealoha was ready to head the department.

But Watase also said, "We have had other successful chiefs come from the captain's rank."

Correa was an assistant chief when he was chosen to head HPD in 2004.

Also in the running for the chief's position — in addition to Kealoha and Yamashiroya — were: HPD acting chief Paul Putzulu, assistant chiefs Deborah tandan and Delbert Tatsuyama, and Cmdr. Harry Markley of the Phoenix Police Department.

The six finalists were narrowed down from 36 applicants.

Kealoha, a 26-year HPD veteran, said yesterday that what he doesn't have in experience he makes up for in education. Kealoha, who grew up in Kalihi and is a graduate of Damien Memorial School, has a doctorate from the University of Southern California. He also received a master's degree from Chaminade University. Since 1999, he has been an adjunct professor at Chaminade.

UNION COMPLAINTS

Kealoha steps into the chief's office after a rocky few years between his predecessor and the union. Under Correa's watch, crime in Honolulu fell to its lowest point since the mid-1970s, and staffing levels at HPD increased.

But police union surveys showed he was unpopular with the rank-and-file, especially over his decision to do away with the popular three-day-a-week, 12-hour-a-day schedules. Officers said the decision prevented them from working special-duty jobs. Correa contended a five-day work week better served the needs of the public.

Kealoha said yesterday he will consider bringing back the three-day week, though he stressed that he hadn't made a decision yet.

Camp said Kealoha was the right choice at a tough time for the department.

"We need a leader," Camp said.

Yesterday morning, City Council members spent more than an hour questioning Camp on the selection process and trying to get at why more candidates were added to the pool.

Camp told the council that the addition of two finalists to the list of six were meant to give the commission options.

"There's no agenda," Camp told the council.

The council decided not to pass any resolutions yesterday asking for a delay in selecting a new chief, but several members did say their concerns hadn't been resolved, and they urged the commission to come up with better guidelines for the process.

The council has no say in who is selected to head the police department; the decision is entirely up to the commission, whose members are appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the City Council. The commission, an independent body created by city charter, also evaluates the police chief and gives him recommendations.

Councilman Charles Djou said the selection process needs to be reformed. At the City Council meeting yesterday, he said, "Whatever the decision may be on the selection on the next chief, it is clear to me that how this chief was selected was mishandled."

But others thought the controversy was being overblown.

Councilman Rod Tam said during the meeting, "Nothing was violated."