Four West Hawaiʻi police officers were honored for investigations, responses to crime in 2025

The Kona Crime Prevention Committee honored Hawaiʻi Police Department officers for outstanding investigations and exemplary work in 2025: Officer Charles Caldwell-Kaʻai, Officer Tyler Meno, Officer Jason Cunefare, and Officer Lawrence Matsumoto.

The Kona Crime Prevention Committee honors a police officer in West Hawaiʻi as their Officer of the Month each month. Officers are nominated by their supervisors from various police districts, and a winner is selected by the committee’s board of directors.

All officers selected for Officer of the Month are eligible to be chosen as the Kona Crime Prevention Committee’s Officer of the Year.

Officer Charles Caldwell-Kaʻai was recognized for his investigative work and compassionate response during two unrelated incidents in August 2025.

On Aug. 1, 2025, Caldwell-Kaʻai responded to a disturbance at an apartment complex in Kona after dispatch received a disconnected 911 call from a woman screaming for help. Upon arrival, he observed a male suspect fleeing from a second-story window and recognized him as a man with outstanding warrants and a history of domestic violence calls at the residence.

Caldwell-Kaʻai checked on the victim, who reported that the suspect had violated a protective order, assaulted her, and unlawfully restrained her. Through follow-up checks in the area, Caldwell-Kaʻai located the suspect two days later hiding inside the residence and took him into custody.

The suspect was arrested for multiple counts of violating a protective order, assault, unlawful imprisonment, and the outstanding warrants.

Later that month, Caldwell-Kaʻai investigated a road rage incident involving visitors to Hawaiʻi Island along Kuakini Highway. Using a license plate provided by the victims, he identified the suspect and forwarded the case to prosecutors for multiple reckless driving, reckless endangering, and criminal property damage charges.

The victim’s family later contacted police to commend Caldwell-Kaʻai for his professionalism and compassion during the investigation.

This is the fifth time Caldwell-Kaʻai has been named a Kona Crime Prevention Committee Officer of the Month, with previous honors in August 2021, November 2021, July 2024, and November 2024.

He was also named the Kona Crime Prevention Committee Officer of the Year for 2025.

Officer Tyler Meno was recognized for his initiative and investigative work in recovering two stolen vehicles in South Kona.

On June 19, 2025, Meno received information that two vehicles belonging to an elderly woman had been taken without permission from the Nāpōʻopoʻo Road area while she was hospitalized. The woman had been living out of the vehicles prior to her medical treatment, making their recovery especially important.

Through coordination with community contacts in the Captain Cook area, Meno later learned the vehicles had been spotted at a nearby gas station. Responding to the location, he detained two suspects, located a witness, and reviewed surveillance footage linking the suspects to the theft.

Following consultation with prosecutors, both suspects were charged with unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle and first-degree theft. The vehicles were recovered and returned to the victim.

An eight-year veteran of the Hawaiʻi Police Department, this was Meno’s third Officer of the Month award, having previously received the honor in 2020 and January 2025.

Officers Jason Cunefare and Lawrence Matsumoto were recognized for their life-saving actions during a welfare check in August 2025.

The officers were dispatched after a co-worker reported concern when an elderly man failed to report for work. With assistance from a resident manager, Cunefare located the man’s apartment and noted his vehicle was parked in its assigned stall. Believing the situation could be critical, Cunefare entered the residence through a louvered window and discovered the man unresponsive and not breathing.

Cunefare immediately began CPR and was soon assisted by Matsumoto, who continued chest compressions while emergency medical personnel were requested. Their coordinated efforts restored the man’s breathing before responders from the Hawaiʻi Fire Department arrived and transported him to the hospital.

The victim was later reported to be in stable condition. Their actions demonstrated quick thinking, teamwork, and a commitment to preserving life.