12 more motorists arrested for DUI from Jan. 12-18 on Big Island roads; total stands at 37 for year

Hawai‘i Island police arrested 12 more motorists for driving under the influence during the week of Jan. 12-18 on Big Island roadways, bringing the total number of DUI arrests so far this year to 37.

Three of those drivers arrested that week also were involved in traffic crashes; one of them was younger than 21 years old.

Puna took the top spot for most DUI arrests the week of Jan. 12-18 with 9 motorists busted. Hilo had 2 and Kona officers arrested 1 driver.

The total DUI arrests as Jan. 18 is 12 less — or a decrease of 24.49% — than the 49 during the same time frame in 2025.

Hawai‘i Police Department Traffic Services Section also reviewed all updated crashes, discovering 54 major crashes already this year. That’s 10 more — or a 22.73% spike — compared with the 44 major crashes recorded during the same time period last year.

Two fatal crashes, resulting in two fatalities, happened already so far this year on the island’s roads, 100% more for both statistics compared with last year by the second week of January, during which just one fatal crash, resulting in one fatality, was recorded.

The non-traffic fatality count — those that don’t happen in a public roadway — remains at none, which it has since the beginning of 2025.

Police report that their crackdown on drunk and drugged drivers continues, with DUI roadblocks and patrols set to continue islandwide.