Kupuna engage with police, discuss crime during monthly meetings

Free monthly meetings offer officers a chance to engage with kūpuna during their scheduled activities at various Hawaiʻi County facilities in Kona.

The Hawaiʻi Police Department’s Kona Community Policing Section, in partnership with the County of Hawaiʻi Parks and Recreation Elderly Services Division, will host the next monthly Kūpuna Watch meeting from 10 to 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 21, at Hale Hālāwai at 75-5670 Aliʻi Drive.

During these sessions, officers discuss crime and traffic trends, the importance of reporting elder abuse, and how to identify and prevent financial and internet crimes.

In addition to Community Policing Officers, each monthly meeting features personnel from different areas of the police department explaining their particular areas of expertise. Past attendees include members of the Juvenile Aid Section and the Criminal Investigation Section. This month’s guest speaker will be Interim Police Chief Reed Mahuna.

The goal is to strengthen trust, promote safety, and build positive relationships through direct, face-to-face interaction.

“Our commitment to keeping our kūpuna safe is essential, as they are a treasured part of our community,” said Kona Community Policing Section Sergeant Wyattlane Nahale.

Launched in November 2025, these meetings have been well-received by the community, with dozens of seniors attending since the program’s inception, according to the Hawaiʻi Police Department.