Pukahi Named Kona Officer of the Month

The Kona Crime Prevention Committee held its monthly “Officer of the Month” recognition luncheon Wednesday at Huggo’s in Kailua-Kona.

The award for November was given to Officer Reuben Pukahi, who was credited for saving the life of a man he knew who was attempting to commit suicide.

The incident happened on June 10. Police had received reports of a man who threatened to hurt himself. Pukahi knew the individual and has asked to assist the officers who were already assigned to the case.

The man was not breathing when he was found in his home. Pukahi, along with other officers, administered chest compression prior to the arrival of Fire Department personnel. The unidentified male eventually gained a strong heartbeat and began breathing again.

“It is not too common that a person is actually able to look at what he has done and say that he made a difference in someone’s life,” said Sergeant David Araki in nomination papers, according to the Hawai’i Police Department.

Pukahi is now eligible for “Officer of the Year” recognition.