Federal funds boost traffic safety initiatives meant to save lives on Big Island roads

Two traffic fatalities on the Big Island during just the first 2 days of the new year have amplified the need for traffic safety programs for pedestrians and drivers.

Those deaths follow a year during which Hawaiʻi County experienced the second highest number of traffic-related fatalities in the state with 29 — a nearly 100% increase from 15 in 2022, according to the Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation.

Torey Keltner, program manager for the Hawai‘i Police Department Traffic Services Section, discussed five appropriations bills with members of the Hawaiʻi County Council Finance Committee that would infuse a total of $157,899 in federal grant dollars into county coffers for new pedestrian and bicycle safety initiatives and help boost existing safety programs for drivers and their passengers.

Keltner and the Traffic Services Section secured one federal grant of $41,792 for community engagement and enforcement related to pedestrian safety, including the increase of police patrols on bikes and on foot in pedestrian-heavy locations. 

The funding will provide “an opportunity for us to have pedestrian and bicycle safety that we havenʻt had that’s not strictly about enforcement, but there’s an educational piece as well,” Keltner said.

“I think, and hope, that this will be a positive step forward. … We have too many people getting killed and hit by cars.”

The new year was only 2 minutes old when 52-year-old Jelson Kainue Leslie of Captain Cook was struck by a white 2018 Honda Accord while setting up fireworks on Kinue Road in the 82-1000 block in preparation to celebrate the New Year.

Leslie was the first traffic fatality in the county and the state.

The driver of the Honda that hit Leslie, 23-year-old Kelly Kaikili Losalio of Captain Cook, was arrested on suspicion of operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant and negligent homicide.

There were 37 pedestrians killed last year throughout the islands in traffic-related incidents, a 61% increase from 2023. The Big Island contributed 7 of those deaths.  

Just hours after Leslie’s death on New Year’s Day, Hawai‘i Island police responded at 5:11 p.m. to a one-car crash in Waikōloa Village.

Ray Donnell Worrells reportedly crossed the double-solid yellow lines and hit a rock wall, causing the 74-year-old’s SUV to overturn. He died at Queen’s North Hawai‘i Community Hospital in Waimea the next morning from the injuries he sustained in the crash.

Keltner said the grant funds could go to different initiatives, such as training officers to use electric bikes in places where high volumes of people are walking in and out of traffic and are at greater risk of getting hit or creating extra shifts for officers to patrol more vulnerable areas.

“In Waikōloa, teachers have talked with the South Kona police about kids coming to school on electric bikes at high speeds, so having a presence there would allow for that engagement with students,” he told council members. “If there are events in any of your communities, or there is a need, get in touch with me to get officers in those areas. Itʻs our community working together thatʻs going to make this work.”

Traffic Services secured a federal grant of $37,839, increasing the total amount to $532,839 for the Hawaiʻi Police Department Roadblock Programs grant fund, which is used to reduce the number of impaired drivers.

Police had arrested 942 people as of Dec. 27, 2024, for driving under the influence on Big Island roadways; several of them stopped by road blocks.

Traffic Services also was awarded $1,724 in federal funds, which increases the total amount of its Occupant Protection Programs grant fund to $161,724. The money enhances enforcement and outreach for restraint and seat belt use.

One occupant protection initiative last year was a combined child safety seat inspection and DUI checkpoint on a Saturday morning in front of Mountain View Elementary School, which proved helpful to families in need.

“This is something I’m proud of,” Keltner said. “We had about 300 cars and were able to help several families install car seats properly and even gave away, I believe, 11 car seats.”

He wants to continue this “very successful” approach.

Traffic Services secured an additional $48,764 in federal funding to increase the total amount of its Selective Traffic Enforcement Programs grant account to $628,764. These funds allowed the department to purchase 12 electric bikes and 20 Stalker brand radars to detect speeding.

“We’ve increased Stalker radars for speeding because it’s obviously a big factor in major crashes,” Keltner said. “We already have many out there. Itʻs a personal objective of mine that every officer on duty has one in their vehicle every time they work.”

Stalker is an industry leader in dash-mount police radar, hand-held radar guns, police Lidar guns and photo and video speed enforcement equipment.

Speeding was the primary contributing factor in 24 crash reports out of 102 statewide throughout 2024, according to the Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation.

Keltner and Hawaiʻi Police Department Traffic Services were awarded another $27,780, increasing to $107,780 the Hawaiʻi Police Department Data grant account, to assist with investigations following traffic crashes.

Funds will be used to update equipment used to retrieve data from vehicles involved in a traffic-related incident.

Puna County Councilwoman Ashley Kierkiewicz praised Keltner’s diligence and dedication in finding, applying for and securing federal grants to help make the Big Island’s roads — and the people who use them — more safe.

“I always love seeing you here because it means more grant money and programs that make an impact and encourage safety, so thank you,” said Kierkiewicz.

The Finance Committee gave all five bills favorable recommendations. The bills now move forward to a regular council meeting for further consideration.