Kona HI-PAL First Annual Keiki Bowling Event a Success….Nearly 500 Keiki Participate West Hawaii DARE Day Event……Police, Miss Aloha Hawaii Thank Participants of Kona Scavenger Hunt Beach Cleanup

Kona HI-PAL First Annual Keiki Bowling Event a Success

Hawai‘i Police Department’s Kona Community Policing Section and Hawaii Police Activities League (HI-PAL) thank all the keiki and their families who participated in the department’s inaugural HI-PAL Bowling event held May 8, 2026, at KBXtreme in Kailua-Kona.

Designed to provide a fun and welcoming environment where youth could enjoy bowling while building positive connections with Hawai‘i Police Department officers, 20 kids partook in the fun. Each keiki received a complimentary game card from KBXtreme. The three bowlers with the highest scores were also recognized with special HI-PAL awards for their outstanding performances.

The Kona Community Policing Section extends a heartfelt mahalo to KBXtreme for supporting the event and helping create a memorable experience for the keiki of our community.

HI-PAL is a Hawai‘i Police Department program in which police officers engage with youth in various recreational and educational activities while serving as mentors. These positive interactions help encourage teamwork, citizenship, responsibility, and trust between youth and law enforcement.

“This type of event was a first for us,” said Sergeant Wyattlane Nahale of the Kona Community Policing Section. “It provided an excellent opportunity to connect with kids beyond our regular sports activities. We look forward to planning more creative community outreach events for our island keiki in the future.”

Nearly 500 Keiki Participate West Hawaii DARE Day Event

The Hawai‘i Police Department proudly hosted DARE DAY 2026 on May 19, 2026, at the Kona Community Aquatic Center and Gym in Kailua-Kona, celebrating the accomplishments of 5th and 6th grade students who successfully completed the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) Program.

Approximately 486 students from Konawaena, Hōnaunau, Waikoloa, Waimea, and Kohala schools converged on Kona to reunite with their DARE Officers and special guest Darren the Lion for a day filled with excitement, teamwork, and recognition for their hard work and commitment to making safe and responsible choices.

The event opened with a formal presentation featuring remarks from the Deputy Managing Director Merrick Nishimoto from the Mayor’s Office and the Hawai‘i Police Department’s Area II Assistant Chief Rio Amon-Wilkins. Both speakers praised the students for their dedication and encouraged them to continue making positive decisions.

One of the day’s major highlights was a thrilling live-action joint response scenario conducted by the Hawai‘i Police Department’s Traffic Enforcement Unit, Special Response Team, Vice West K9 Officers, and the Hawai‘i Fire Department Rescue personnel alongside Chopper 1. Students watched in awe as first responders demonstrated teamwork, specialized tactics, and emergency response capabilities in a fast-paced and educational presentation.

While Kona weather delivered plenty of sunshine, heat, and humidity, students enthusiastically cooled off in the refreshing waters of the Kona pool, spending time with classmates and friends while celebrating their DARE completion.

Adding to the excitement, carnival-style games filled the parking area where students played games, earned tickets, and redeemed them for prizes at the popular DARE Prize Tent.

Throughout the day, students were also treated to a pizza lunch complete with fresh salad, chilled apple and orange slices topped with li hing mui powder, bottled water, and refreshing shaved ice.

Supporting the students and participating in the celebration were representatives from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 3R’s Program, PTA Fire, PTA Police, and DOCARE Officers from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

A special thanks goes out to Area II Major Roy Valera, who currently serves as the DARE Hawai‘i President and has held that role for the past 10 years. Major Valera has been involved with the DARE Program since 2000 after completing his DARE Officer Training in 1999. Throughout his career, he has been an invaluable asset, steadfast pillar, and a passionate advocate for the DARE Program while continually encouraging younger officers to accept the challenge of becoming DARE Certified.

“We would like to thank the many supporters that came out to make this day successful,” said South Kohala Community Policing Officer Justin Cabanting. “This event would not have been possible without the partnership of our schools, agencies, volunteers, sponsors, and community members who continue to invest in our youth.”

As the event came to a close, students boarded their buses carrying prizes, memories, and smiles as they returned to their respective campuses after a memorable day celebrating achievement, friendship, and positive choices.

The Hawai‘i Police Department remains committed to empowering Hawai‘i’s youth through education, mentorship, and strong community partnerships.

Police, Miss Aloha Hawaii Thank Participants of Kona Scavenger Hunt Beach Cleanup

The Hawaiʻi Police Department’s Kona Community Policing Section, Hawaiʻi Police Activities League (HI-PAL), and Miss Aloha Hawaiʻi 2025 Scarlette Burnham-Rosario extend their thanks to all participants who took part in a Scavenger Hunt Beach Cleanup held May 16, 2026, at Old Airport Recreation Area in Kailua-Kona.

Fifteen volunteers participated in the community service event, working together to help keep Kona’s coastline clean and safe for residents and visitors. Throughout the cleanup, participants collected five bags and five buckets of litter and marine debris from the shoreline and surrounding areas. Snacks and refreshments were provided to volunteers following the event.

To make the cleanup both educational and engaging, participants also took part in a scavenger hunt challenge, searching for commonly discarded items such as plastic bottles, bottle caps, straws, food wrappers, fishing line, aluminum cans, and other marine debris for an opportunity to win prizes.

The event highlighted the importance of mālama ʻāina and environmental stewardship while raising awareness about the impacts of litter and marine debris on Hawaiʻi’s beaches, coastal ecosystems, and marine life.

The Kona Community Policing Section extends its appreciation to the employees of Costco and the community volunteers who dedicated their time and effort to making a positive difference for Hawaiʻi Island.

HI-PAL is a Hawaiʻi Police Department program that provides opportunities for officers to engage with youth through recreational, educational, and community-service activities. These positive interactions help foster teamwork, responsibility, citizenship, and trust between youth and law enforcement.