Council Honors Kaʻū Patrol Officer For Lifesaving Actions

First responders arriving at a scene often have to bring calm to the chaos.

That is exactly what Hawaiʻi Police Officer Xylon Takata did when he responded to a call at a Kaʻū residence on the Big Island and encountered an unresponsive woman and her family frantically trying to help. Officer Takata’s quick thinking and actions helped save the woman’s life.

The Hawai’i County Council awarded Takata the Hāweo Award for September. The award recognizes county police and fire department personnel who go above and beyond the call of duty.

“I’m sure walking into that situation, it was chaos,” Councilwoman Sue Lee Loy told Takata when he was honored at Tuesday’s meeting of the county’s Parks and Recreation and Public Safety Committee.

Takata arrived at the residence to find the woman’s uncle desperately performing CPR on her. Takata asked what happened and then ran to his patrol vehicle to grab NARCAN spray. It is used for treatment of known or suspected opioid overdose.

Takata ran back into the house to administer the life-saving spray into one of the woman’s nostrils. He next took over giving the woman CPR and keeping her alive until rescue personnel arrived. She was transported to Kona Community Hospital, surviving the ordeal.

Takata also was presented with a lei and certificate from the council.

It’s a great honor for an officer who has been on the job for less than two years. Takata was part of the 93rd Police Recruit Class that graduated in February 2021.

“It’s rare that we see a positive outcome in things that we do on the road as police officers,” said Kaʻū Patrol Sgt. Duffy Duldulao, who nominated Takata for the award.

The committee members all thanked Officer Takata for his actions that day and his service to the community.

“Your diligence, your training and your ability to see through the circumstance and identify a potential solution really exemplifies your service and your role to protect and serve our community as a police officer,” Councilwoman Rebecca Villegas said.