Hawai‘i Island has seen its share of DUI arrests this month, with 24 motorists getting caught behind the wheel under the influence between November 3 and November 9, according to a report from the Hawai‘i Police Department. These latest figures contribute to the year's total which, fortunately, shows a slight downturn; 794 DUI arrests have occurred so far in 2025, marking a welcome, if modest, 4.22 percent decrease from the previous year's 829 during the same time frame.
The detailed breakdown by district presents a stark contrast between areas, with Kona leading in DUI arrests at 14 for the week and 311 for the year, and South Kohala, North Kohala, North Hilo, and Ka‘ū districts having none for the week but varying year-to-date totals. Although the drop in DUI arrests suggests progress, the major crashes tally for the island inches upward, with 859 major incidents thus far in 2025, a marginal increase over last year's 857 by the end of the same period, as reported by the Hawai‘i Police Department.
There's a silver lining amidst these sobering statistics: fewer fatal crashes and fatalities have been recorded this year in comparison to last year. The number of fatal crashes fell to 18, from 23 the year prior, resulting in 20 tragic losses of life, down from 25, painting a picture of a decrease of 21.74 percent for fatal crashes and 20 percent for fatalities. Despite these changes in statistics, the Hawai‘i Police Department remains vigilant, continuing DUI roadblocks and patrols across the island.
