Hawaii Island Police have reported a decline in DUI arrests for the year to date, with figures suggesting a 4.49 percent decrease compared to the same period in the previous year. The data, released for the week of November 17 to last Sunday, shows a total of 16 motorists apprehended for driving under the influence, according to the Hawaiʻi Police Department announcement. Notably, none of those arrested were under the legal drinking age of 21.
While DUI arrests have declined, major crashes have slightly increased, with 904 incidents so far this year compared to 890 last year, a 1.57 percent rise. The Kona district led weekly DUI arrests with six, followed by Puna with five, while North Hilo and Hāmākua reported none, according to police data.
Year-to-date DUI totals show Kona leading with 329 arrests, followed by Hilo at 264 and Puna at 143, with 829 arrests overall on the island. Fatal crashes, however, have dropped 28 percent, with 18 incidents causing 20 deaths so far this year, down from 25 crashes and 28 deaths last year.
Officials emphasize the importance of DUI checkpoints and patrols, which will continue across the island to curb instances of impaired driving. Even though there were traffic crashes involving four of the recent DUI arrests, fortunately, none escalated to fatal consequences. The commitment of the Hawaii Police Department's Traffic Services Section to keep the roads safe is reflected in their ongoing efforts to analyze crash data and enforce driving laws.
