Public Invited to Attend Police Week Festivities

Hawai‘i Island residents and visitors are invited to attend Police Week festivities, including station tours, during the national event next week.

Police Week is a nationally recognized week of activities in support of police work and in recognition of officers who have died or been disabled in the line of duty. In 1962, President John F. Kennedy proclaimed every May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week it falls in as National Police Week. In Hawaiʻi County, Police Week activities will take place from Monday, May 16, through Friday, May 20.

The public is invited to attend formal Police Week ceremonies on Monday, May 16, at 10:00 a.m., at the Hilo police station and Wednesday, May 18, at 10 a.m. at the Kona police station. Both ceremonies include pre-ceremony entertainment and a tribute to Hawaiʻi County officers who gave their lives in the line of duty.

Police will pay tribute to:

• Officer Manuel Cadinha, who gave his life in 1918.
• Officer William “Red” Oili, who gave his life in 1936.
• Officer Ronald “Shige” Jitchaku, who gave his life in 1990.
• Officer Kenneth Keliipio, who gave his life in 1997.
• Park Ranger Steve Makuakane-Jarrell, who gave his life in 1999.
• Officer Bronson Kaimana Kaliloa, who was killed in the line of duty on July 18, 2018.

During Police Week, members of the public are encouraged to attend station tours at the Hilo and Kona Police stations on Friday, May 20, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Call Officer Amy Omaya at 808-961-2264, to schedule an appointment.