‘True embodiment of what it means to serve with aloha’: Tamaribuchi, Kohara receive Hāweo Awards

Two 19-year veterans — a fire equipment operator with Hawaiʻi Fire Department and a Hawaiʻi Police Department detective — were honored by the Hawaiʻi County Council as the most recent recipients of Hāweo Awards.

“Hāweo” has many meanings, including “to put in a place of honor,” “to glow” or “to be radiant.”

The Hāweo Award, established in 2021 by the Hawaiʻi County Council, Hawaiʻi Fire Department and Hawaiʻi Police Department, celebrates employees who go beyond the call of duty.

Lyle Tamaribuchi

Hawaiʻi County Council members presented a Hāweo Award to Hawaiʻi Fire Department Fire Equipment Operator Lyle Tamaribuchi on Jan. 21 in honor of his professionalism and dedication to public service.

“Lyle is a mentor to many in the department and is admired for his warm personality, politeness, and ability to foster positive relationships with his colleagues,” said Hawaiʻi Fire Department Chief Kazuo Todd. “His professionalism and dedication make him a true embodiment of what it means to serve with aloha.”

Tamaribuchi, in addition to his duties as a fire equipment operator, also contributes to the department’s Training Services Branch, playing a key role in vetting new training programs such as the Blue Card Command System.

Tamaribuchi’s coworkers and supervisors say the nearly 20-year department vet consistently goes above and beyond expectations.

His contributions to the department and the community also earned him the Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Foundation Award in 2015.

Donovan Kohara

Area II Criminal Investigation Section Detective Donovan Kohara was honored Feb. 20 by the council with a Hāweo Award because of his investigative prowess and steadfast determination in solving crimes.

A 19-year Hawai’i Police Department veteran, Kohara has worked since 2018 in Area II Criminal Investigation Section in Kona. Despite multiple opportunities to transfer closer to home in Area I on the Hilo side of the island, he is dedicated to the West Hawai‘i communities he has grown to know and sworn to protect.  
 
Kohara’s diligent and innovative policing as a senior detective has fostered a positive and proactive work environment, while ultimately creating a safer community for all residents within Area II.

In the past year alone, he investigated 90 cases covering a wide range of crimes, several of them violent, including homicides, assaults, arson, burglary, theft and firearm violations. Many of these investigations involved identifying and breaking up rings of habitual felony offenders.
 
Kohara will often work in remote areas, where resources are less available to help communities with their unique and challenging issues. His ability to build relationships has helped positively impact communities historically challenged with crime.
 
According to Hawaiʻi Police Department, Kohara’s unwavering determination for justice and self-sacrifice demonstrates his attitude of not quitting until the job is done. His proactive approach to solving crimes and continuously helping other detectives makes him valuable to the department and appreciated by his peers.

His style of working with the community and fellow officers fosters an environment of teamwork to solve high-profile crimes and work on innovative ideas to prevent crime. 

Kohara has proven to be an extraordinary investigator through the years and is an asset to the department and community he serves.