Friday night in Puna got a little tense for anyone near the Hawaiian Beaches subdivision, as police activity shut down the area around Aʻama Street and kept traffic on hold for hours while officers worked the scene.
The County of Hawaiʻi pushed out an alert through Nixle, asking residents to stay away from the Aʻama Street area until authorities gave the all-clear. The message identified the Hawaiʻi Police Department as the responding agency and warned the disruption could last for several hours.
Update: Aʻama Street Reopened
According to Big Island Now, the Hawaiʻi Police Department later confirmed the activity had wrapped up and Aʻama Street was reopened to all traffic early Saturday morning. Officials thanked the public for their patience and cooperation as officers cleared the area.
How To Get Alerts And Stay Informed
The Hawaiʻi Police Department shifted its emergency notifications to the Everbridge system earlier this year, so residents now get alerts via text, email or phone, depending on how they set up their account, according to Hawaii News Now.
For non-emergency questions, the department lists (808) 935-3311 on its website. For immediate emergencies, call 911, per the Hawaiʻi Police Department.
Even with Aʻama Street back open, residents and visitors in Hawaiian Beaches are encouraged to lean on official alerts and local news for any follow-up information and for future incidents that might affect traffic or public safety.
