Kona Community Policing Section, partners host Kailua Park Playground cleanup

Hawai’i Police Department Kona Community Policing Section officers recently partnered with 808 Homeless Task Force, Hawai’i County Park and Recreation, Kona Brewery Block, One Slap Security and other community partners for a Kailua Park Playground cleanup at Old Kona Airport Beach Park in Kailua-Kona.

The cleanup initiative is a part of the HONOUR — Homeless Outreach Nurturing Our Community — project, which included about 20 unsheltered volunteers who assisted with cleaning up the popular playground.

This effort brought officers and community members together with a shared goal of preserving and enhancing one of the Big Island’s valued public spaces.

It provided an opportunity to improve the park’s appearance, promote environmental stewardship and strengthen positive relationships between law enforcement and the community.

“Community policing is about building trust, fostering partnerships and working side-by-side with residents to address community concerns,” said Kona Community Police Officer Tyler Meno in a release about the recent cleanup. “Through events like this, we continue to demonstrate our commitment to creating a safer, cleaner and more welcoming public space for our keiki.”

Anyone would like to volunteer for upcoming or future Homeless Outreach Nurturing Our Community projects can contact Meno via email at tyler.meno@hawaiipolice.gov.