WAILUKU, Maui — The Maui Police Department bid aloha to Chief Tom Phillips on Friday with an unveiling of his photo and a flag ceremony at the Wailuku police station.
Phillips, who has been police chief for 11 years, officially retires Monday.

Former employees, current staff and police officials from all over Hawaiçi attended the events to salute Phillips, who has served more than 30 years with the department.
"He's such a compassionate guy. We all benefited learning from him," said Assistant Chief Sydney Kikuchi. "He trusted our decision-making."
Kikuchi said that the school resource officer programs in which police officers go into schools and handle programs and interact with the students was implemented during Phillips' tenure as chief.
Former Maui Police Chief Howard Tagomori praised Phillips, who succeeded Tagomori as head of the department.
"The department is going to miss him. The county is going to miss him. The state is going to miss him. We are all going to miss him," Tagomori said.
Phillips was all smiles Friday afternoon as lei were draped around his neck, and he received hugs and handshakes from officers, family members and workers.
"It's been a good day so far," Phillips said after the ceremonies as people came up to him to offer their congratulations.
He said what he'll miss the most is the people he has worked with for decades.
Phillips received the American flag that flew in front of the station on Friday as he was saluted by officers and police cadets who lined up at attention in the station's parking lot.
At an earlier ceremony inside the station, Phillips presented Deputy Chief Gary Yabuta with the chief's badge.
Earlier this month, Yabuta was selected by the Maui Police Commission to succeed Phillips. Yabuta will be officially sworn in at a later date, county officials said.
Phillips said at the ceremony that he had two badges and he kept one in its original wrapper. He said he wanted to keep that preserved badge to present it to the person who would succeed him.
He said although there were other qualified candidates for the position, Yabuta is the "right person" for the job. But he said Yabuta will have to deal with some tough times ahead.
"I think he's the guy who is prepared for this," Phillips added.
Phillips and Yabuta share a mutual respect and affection.
"He's been a great chief, a great friend," Yabuta said after the ceremony.
Yabuta has known Phillips since 1990, when Phillips was a captain and Yabuta was a sergeant on Molokaçi.
Since then, there was no more than a span of three days that the two wouldn't talk to each other, Yabuta said.
"To see it possibly coming to an end today, for me, it's a melancholy moment," he added.
Yabuta said he will continue Phillips' philosophy of being available to people and his staff as well as listening to those who want to speak and share their ideas.
Karl Godsey, a deputy police chief from Honolulu, said Oçahu police have always had a sibling-like relationship with the Maui Police Department and found it important to attend the ceremonies on Friday.
"He's been a good friend to Honolulu and to us personally," Godsey said of Phillips.
"(Now) we're going to play golf," Godsey said with a laugh.
Phillips said in an interview in February that he will be spending more time with his grandchildren and aging parents as well as traveling and working on home-improvement projects. He has been with the department since 1976.