Over the weekend, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Hawai'i, along with the state Department of Transportation, acknowledged the contributions of three Hawai'i Police Department (HPD) officers in their ongoing battle against impaired driving. The recognition event held in Honolulu honored a total of 18 law enforcement professionals for their dedication to road safety.
The HPD honorees included Hilo Patrol Officer Lawrence Kobayashi, South Kohala Patrol Officer Landon Takenishi, and Area II Traffic Enforcement Unit Sergeant Thomas Koyanagi. Sergeant Koyanagi, who received the MADD Lifetime Achievement Award, has been a steady presence at the HPD for over two decades, noted for his pioneering work in drug recognition and enforcement, as reported by Nixle.
Sergeant Koyanagi's contributions include establishing the Hawai'i Police Department’s Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) Instructor Development Course in 2021 and coordinating a DRE School the following year. His innovative "Green Lab" Cannabis Detection Workshop in 2024 marked a first for the state of Hawai'i. Notably, Koyanagi's leadership has earned him and his unit recognition from MADD on multiple occasions between 2009 and 2014.
Patrolling the South Hilo district, Officer Kobayashi has a noteworthy record in traffic and impaired driver enforcement. Following his recognition as the Hilo Patrol Top Traffic Enforcer for two consecutive years, 2023 and 2024, Kobayashi's unwavering commitment to his duty has been acknowledged by MADD prior, in 2018 and 2019. Officer Takenishi, a 13-year veteran with HPD, brings specialized skills as a Drug Recognition Expert to his role in South Kohala Patrol. His dedication has earned him the title of Officer of the Quarter three times, as noted by the Hawaii Island Safety and Security Professionals Association, including once in 2024.
According to Nixle, Police Chief Benjamin Moszkowicz expressed his conviction regarding the importance of traffic enforcement, saying, "Conducting traffic enforcement can be dangerous and is often a thankless job." he added, "It is important and I am firmly convinced it saves lives. Any time we can take a dangerous, impaired driver off the road, it makes the community a safer place." Echoing this sentiment, he praised the partnership with MADD Hawai'i and commended the awardees for their deserving accolades.
