Kaʻū News Briefs March 21, 2024

Vacation rentals like this one in Volcano could become unavailable should passage of a state law allowing
counties to phase them out becomes successful. Photo from Love Big Island

A BILL THAT COULD LEAD TO A BAN ON VACATION RENTALS IN ALL BUT RESORT and some commercial-zoned places is gaining momentum in the state House of Representatives. Attorney Sherry Broder, known for working on causes that support local initiatives, submitted testimony "strongly opposing" SB2919, which would allow counties to phase out vacation rentals, with the aim of the units becoming long term housing.
   Her testimony contends that instead of vacation rentals, building more hotels is is one of the problems of affordable housing. Broder writes that "The counties keep approving more hotel rooms, more tourists keep coming, and then many tourists want to have a home in Hawai'i." She points to the Punalu'u development proposal here, the proposed Coco Palms and Koloa/Po'ipu units on Kaua'i, and a new hotel planned in Wailea on Maui. On O'ahu, she notes plans for several large hotel projects and numerous smaller ones. She objects to the argument that a vacation rental ban will solve the affordable housing problem.

Hawai'i Hotel Alliance supports the ban
on vacation rentals.

    Broder claims that the bill to ban vacation rentals "is great for the lucrative hotel industry and bad for local people who have the opportunity to access a very small portion of the tourism dollars through short term rentals (STRs)." She notes that Planning Directors around the state are recommending "approvals or more hotel rooms, more expensive housing for non-locals and more golf courses." She writes that "The super wealthy and international corporations receive the tourism dollars in Hawai'i. Private equity companies own almost 30% of Hawai‘i’s hotel rooms." She says Hawai'i continues to be attractive for private equity buyers because it’s one of the highest performing hotel markets in the country. "Local people do not share in the real tourism dollars because of the high barrier to entry," says Broder. "All local people bear the burden of tourism. It is unfair that only hotels can make money from tourism. Today the hotels are mostly owned by hedge funds and multinational corporations. For the most part, local people earn low wages at the hotels."
    Broder contends that short-term rentals bring positive economic benefits to local people and to county governments.
    "Many STRs are owned by local people who do not have access to the capital needed to build a hotel

American Hotel & Lodging Association supports
ban on vacation rentals.

and local people should be supported in their efforts to engage in making money from the tourists. The STR market provides new income channels for State and county governments. Prohibiting STRs will contribute to the continuing decline of economic opportunities for local people.
    "Many local people seek to stay at STRs as most often they are a more affordable option.
    "Short term rentals bring tax dollars to the state and local governments," writes Broder.
    She writes that building affordable housing is difficult because: Land ownership is concentrated in a very few landowners in Hawai'i which drives up the price of land. The cost of materials is very high because of the shipping costs and the competition for materials.
    "Hawai'i is like the national trend of the rise in economic inequality making it harder for lower-income

Hotel workers union supports
ban on vacation rentals.

households to buy secure housing. The PEW Foundation reports that the rise in economic inequality in the U.S. is tied to several factors. These include in no particular order, technological change, globalization, the decline of unions and the eroding value of the minimum wage. Whatever the causes, there has been an uninterrupted increase in inequality in wealth since 1980. A greater share of the nation’s aggregate income is now going to upper-income households and the share going to middle- and lower-income households is falling. See https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2020/01/09/trends-in-income-and-wealth-inequality/. This bill perpetuates this economic inequality by prohibiting ordinary local people from participating in the lucrative tourism market," concludes Broder.
    The Senate Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy, Economic Development, Tourism & Public Safety reported that "short-term rentals can be disruptive, not only to Hawai'i's traditional and economically essential lodging industries, but to the character and fabric of local residential neighborhoods. Further, while short-term

Rental by Owner Awareness Association opposes
ban on vacation rentals.

rentals may not be legally inconsistent with the land uses that they are intended for, they must be regulated properly so that users of short-term rentals and communities alike can mutually benefit from these transactions.           Therefore, this measure establishes a comprehensive regulatory scheme for short-term rentals of dwelling units and expands the zoning powers of counties to phase out future nonconforming uses over time, in order to promote the orderly development of each county and ensure the greatest benefit for the State as a whole."

Expedia Opposes Ban on vacation rentals.

    

    Testimony supporting the bill to allow the phase out of vacation rentals came from such organizations as Hawaiʻi Hotel Alliance, The American Hotel & Lodging Association, Hawaiʻi State Association of Counties, Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi, Lahaina Strong, Housing Hawaiʻi's Future, UNITE HERE Local 5, International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 142, one member of the Honolulu City Council, two members of the Maui County Council, and more than 290 individuals.
    Testimony opposing the bill came from Hawaiʻi Association of REALTORS, Airbnb, Rental By Owner Awareness Association, Expedia Group, and more than 120 individuals.
    See all the testimony and follow the progress of the bill at https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=2919&year=2024

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USGS VOLCANO EXPERTS HELP EQUATORIAL GUINEA TO FORECAST ERUPTIONS. Establishing a Nascent Monitoring Program on Pico Basile Volcano, Equatorial Guinea is the title of the latest Volcano Watch, the weekly article and activity update written by U.S. Geological Survey 
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates:
    In 2012, steam began to rise from beneath the cracked concrete of a telecommunication station at the summit of Pico Basile volcano on Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea, in western Africa. The steaming lasted several days and extended to two nearby summit craters.

Pico Basile volcano, located on Bioko Island in Equatorial Guinea in western Africa. USGS photo

   Fortunately, the event didn't escalate beyond some baked vegetation and the slightly fried nerves of station personnel. The volcano had been in a state of quiescence, slumbering peacefully for nearly a century, and this event served as a not-so-subtle reminder that Pico Basile could wake up at any time—and it was completely unmonitored.

    Pico Basile is a shield volcano located at the center of the enigmatic Cameroon Volcanic Line (CVL) in western Africa. Like the volcanoes in Hawai'i, it features basalt lava flows, scoria cones, and tuff rings. Pico Basile is the second-most active volcano on the CVL, after Mount Cameroon, which is 65 km (40 mi) to the northeast on the African continent. The most recent series of recorded eruptions on Pico Basile took place from the 1890s to 1923. These eruptions impacted population centers on the South and East flanks of the volcano. Malabo, the capital city of Equatorial Guinea with a population of approximately 300,000 people, is located on its northern flank.

    Potential eruption hazards from Pico Basile are similar to those in Hawai'i and include earthquakes, lava flows, ballistic projectiles, and volcanic gases including sulfur dioxide (SO2). Even in its current quiescent state, hazards on Pico Basile include carbon dioxide (CO2) accumulation, landslides, and wildfires.
    Since 2017, international researchers had been working to assess the state of activity at Pico Basile and piece together its eruptive history. The 2021 disaster on La Palma, Spain, where Cumbre Vieja erupted after 50 years of quiescence destroying over 3,000 buildings and displacing over 7,000 people, highlighted the importance of monitoring quiescent volcanoes. Following that eruption, it became apparent that foreign research was not enough; the people of Equatorial Guinea needed the ability to monitor their volcanoes from within their own country.
    In 2023, the National University of Equatorial Guinea (UNGE) partnered with a Research Corporation of the University of Hawai'i affiliate staff member of the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory through the Fulbright Specialist Program. With support from the U.S. Agency for International Development–USGS Volcano Disaster Assistance Program (USAID-USGS VDAP), they created the first volcano monitoring program in Equatorial Guinea for Pico Basile volcano.

UNGE team with a newly installed seismic station. Also pictured is Dr. Christine Sealing (Fulbright Specialist), top row second from left, and Aaron Rinehart (USAID-USGS VDAP) bottom row second from right. USGS photo

    The backbone of the new volcano monitoring program is a team of eight UNGE staff and two students who participated in a month-long workshop where they gained a broad understanding of volcanology and volcanic hazards, including the history and hazards specific to Pico Basile. They also learned essential field engineering techniques and installed four broadband seismic stations around the volcano to detect earthquakes. Using data from previous research stations, the UNGE team received training in seismic analysis and learned to recognize signs of volcano seismic unrest. Although in its infancy, the new monitoring program has already served as an important source of information by reassuring officials that recent remote wildfires on Pico Basile were not caused by volcanic activity.

    Collaborative assistance programs such as the Fulbright Specialist Program and USAID-USGS VDAP are integral in building technical capacity and diplomatic relationships overseas through education and science. These programs work by invitation such that host countries and institutions lead the collaboration, cultivating trust and goodwill between all partners.
    The Fulbright Program is an international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government for the purpose of fostering enduring connections between U.S. Americans and people from other countries around the world. The mission of USAID-USGS VDAP, funded through an interagency agreement with the Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance within USAID, is to mitigate volcanic risk overseas by assisting scientists with volcano monitoring, hazards assessments, and eruption forecasting. At Pico Basile, this collaboration between the UNGE, the USAID-USGS VDAP, and U.S. scientists through the Fulbright Specialist Program has culminated in the first volcano-monitoring program in Equatorial Guinea and hopefully the beginning of lasting scientific relationships.
    Volcano Activity Updates: Kīlauea is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert level is ADVISORY.Low levels of disbursed seismicity continue at Kīlauea's summit and along the Koa'e fault system southwest of the caldera. Earthquake counts in this region increased slightly over the past two weeks but remain well

below those detected during the January–February intrusion or prior to recent summit eruptions. Tiltmeters near Sand Hill and Uēkahuna bluff have continued to record modest inflationary trends over the past week. No unusual activity has been noted along the rift zones.
    Mauna Loa is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert Level is at NORMAL.
    Webcams show no signs of activity on Mauna Loa. Summit seismicity has remained at low levels over the past month. Ground deformation indicates continuing slow inflation as magma replenishes the reservoir system following the 2022 eruption. SO2 emission rates are at background levels.
    Five earthquakes were reported felt in the Hawaiian Islands during the past week: a M2.9 earthquake 3 km (1 mi) NNW of Kukuihaele at 13 km (8 mi) depth on March 20 at 6:18 p.m. HST, a M3.0 earthquake 10 km (6 mi) ENE of Pāhala at 32 km (20 mi) depth on March 19 at 9:38 p.m. HST, a M3.2 earthquake 3 km (1 mi) S of Pāhala at 32 km (19 mi) depth on March 15 at 8:37 p.m. HST, a M3.3 earthquake 4 km (2 mi) SSW of Pāhala at 31 km (19 mi) depth on March 15 at 8:11 p.m. HST, and a M2.0 earthquake 14 km (8 mi) NE of Pāhala at 4 km (2 mi) depth on March 15 at 7:01 a.m. HST.
   Email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.

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Kaʻū News Briefs March 20, 2024

Visitors below the cliff at a distance from the critically endangered Hawaiian monk seal. Photo by Summer Fisher

 

Monk seal at Green Sand Beach, photo taken at distance with telescopic lens.

Photo by Summer Fisher

PAPAKŌLEA, MAHANA,  GREEN SAND BEACH, in online promotions for the many visitors that trek there each day, is the recent resting place of a critically endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal, ‘īlio holo i ka uaua, who was documented by photographer Summer Fisher on Tuesday. 

    Fisher said she remained more than 50 feet from the seal and captured its photo along with a photo showing nearby tourists on the Green Sand Beach at a good distance from the seal.

    The Hawaiian Monk Seal,  Neomonachus schauinslandi, is one of the most endangered seal species on the planet. According to NOAA, the population declined for six decades and current numbers, though increasing, are only about one-third of historic population levels. NOAA reports that the current upward trend is due in part to federal NOAA Fisheries recovery efforts.

    NOAA reports: "Hawaiian monk seals are found in the Hawaiian archipelago which includes both the main and Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and rarely at Johnston Atoll which lies nearly 1,000 miles southwest of Hawai‘i. These monk seals are endemic to these islands, occurring nowhere else in the world. Hawaiian monk seals are protected under the Endangered Species Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and State of Hawai‘i law."

    The popular tourist trail to Green Sands Beach is owned by the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. The beach itself belongs to the public and is stewarded by the state Department of Land & Natural Resources. There is no lifeguard nor steward to protect the beach and educate visitors about the place, the culture and the wildlife.

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KĪLAUEA SUMMIT AREA CONGESTION, SAFETY, RESOURCE PROTECTION AND VISITOR EXPERIENCE are topics for public input, which has been extended for comment until March 31 by Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.

    "The park encourages input, especially from those who hold a deep connection to Kīlauea, who participate in cultural protocol, and recreate or conduct business within the park," says an HVNP statement.
    The Kīlauea Summit Area and Corridor Management Plan aims to identify management strategies and solutions to reduce conflicts

among cars, buses, motorcycles, bicyclists (including e-bikes) and pedestrians on park roads and trails that traverse the popular and often-crowded summit of Kīlauea volcano.
   An online newsletter describes the desired conditions of the project, the issues the plan will address, and project goals, and is available for comment at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/kilaueasummitcmp.
    The public comment period began Feb. 22 and was extended to March 31. "This comment period is the initial phase of the plan and future opportunities to provide input will be announced as the plan develops," says the park statement.
    Since 2008, following the first significant summit eruption since 1924, park visitation has soared with most visitors drawn to areas between Uēkahuna and Devastation, including Nāhuku lava tube, Kīlauea Iki, Kīlauea Visitor Center, the entrance station and the overall summit corridor. The high concentration of vehicles and people in a relatively small area often results in full parking lots, lines of traffic at the entrance station, crowded overlooks, resource damage and frustrated visitors.
    Major damage to Crater Rim Drive and the loss of buildings and infrastructure during the 2018 Kīlauea eruption and summit collapse has exacerbated park congestion, especially during eruptions, and the busy winter and summer holiday travel seasons. The park lost Jaggar Museum, a portion of Crater Rim Drive, Halema‘uma‘u Overlook and ‘Iliahi Trail due to the eruptive events that year.
    The need for, and development of, a Kīlauea summit site plan was included in the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park 2016 General Management Plan. See:                                                               https://www.nps.gov/havo/learn/management/upload/Hawaii-Volcanoes-General-Management-Plan_2016_508.pdf.

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THE HAWAI‘I WE DESERVE is the title of Gov. Josh Green's report, released last Friday on the eve of his one-week visit to Japan to promote tourism to the islands.

    Green reported that The Hawai‘i We Deserve is: 

• A place where our children can grow up and thrive, have families of their own, and find abundant educational and economic opportunities. 

• A center of innovation and progress in the Pacific, contributing to and enriching the global community. 

• A place where our keiki and kūpuna are cared for, our communities and institutions are supported, and our local culture and natural resources are respected and preserved. 

• A place where local families can always call home. 

• A place where we value tolerance and mutual respect regardless of race or religion, age, sex, political affiliation, or socioeconomic status. 

   The Governor stated, "Our vision for Hawai‘i encompasses all these things and more. But how do we collectively reach The Hawai‘i We Deserve?                 "Through decades of commitment, shared values, and hard work, today Hawai‘i is filled with aloha, beautiful scenery, some of the most welcoming people on earth, and our unique spirit of aloha.

    "We want people from around the world to visit Hawaiʻi and experience this beauty and spirit for themselves. However, Hawai‘i struggles with chronic, fundamental challenges that are not necessarily unique to Hawaiʻi, but which impact the full potential of our state and most importantly, the well-being of our people. We live in a rapidly changing world, and in many ways, Hawai‘i is still adapting to the challenges of the 21st century. Many residents feel that our state has lost the momentum and energy generated by the hard work of the past—and with it, our hope for a better future. Some feel that our once close-knit communities are drifting apart. Mounting economic challenges in the new millennium have forced many to leave our state—as many as 15,000 each year.

    "Too many of these are people who were born in Hawaiʻi and grew up here have struggled to find economic opportunity and the hope for a better life in their home state. To me this is unacceptable and must change. The past year has also presented new and unexpected challenges. The disastrous fires of August 8, 2023, claimed 101 lives on Maui in a single tragic day, and left thousands more homeless. Maui’s recovery is far from complete, and the survivors have ongoing and immense needs that we are continuing to meet. 

    "To truly realize The Hawaiʻi We Deserve, we must continue to address these challenges, push for change, and keep making real progress in our state. What does change and progress mean for the people of Hawaiʻi? Fundamentally, this means taking action based on our shared values. It’s not enough to simply debate ideas, delay over minor details, and stall initiatives—we need to tackle our challenges headon. It means asking more from our leaders and institutions—to push for solutions, take action, and move Hawaiʻi forward," stated the Governor. 

     See the entire report at: https://governor.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2024-Green-Admin-Policy-Briefing-Report-1.pdf.

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THE SOUTH HAWAI‘I SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA will present the concert An Afternoon at the Movies on Saturday, March 30 at Ocean View Community Center, starting at 2 p.m. The concert is free; donations are appreciated.

Farley Sangels will conduct An Afternoon at the Movies.

 An Afternoon at the Movies will be largely composed of pieces of music that were either soundtracks or theme songs for a large variety of popular movies, such as Ben Hur, Star Wars, Lion King and many others.
    The orchestra will be conducted by Farley Sangels, a musician with a long career in many of the country's top orchestras, and more recently with the Hong Kong Philharmonic. Sangels' taste for crowd-pleasing music and his relaxed conducting style have made him popular with Kaʻū audiences.
    The South Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra is composed of about 20 musicians, largely from Kaʻū, who play a wide variety of orchestral instruments. They perform as volunteers for the community orchestra.
    This will be the third concert that the South Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra has presented. Its previous shows drew audiences of over 100 music fans and culminated in standing ovations.

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Kaʻū News Briefs March 19, 2024

The state Department of Land & Natural Resources and other partners encourage involvement in Climate Week.
Photo from DLNR

PARTICIPATING IN CLIMATE WEEK, starting this weekend, is encouraged by Dawn Chang, chair of the state Board of Land & Natural Resources. She said, "Climate impacts are being felt deeply across the
state. Climate Week highlights the need for urgent action on implementing climate change strategies that

are equitable, culturally responsive, and resilient.” Chang cochairs the Hawai‘i Climate Change Mitigation and Adaption Commission.

    Climate Week organizers aim to highlight many actions funded by the Inflation Reduction Act and other

federal source, including rollout of the Hawai‘i and Pacific Islands chapter of the fifth National Climate Assessment and the official launch of the state Comprehensive Climate Action Plan.
    Mary Alice Evans, Interim Director of the State Office of Planning & Sustainable Development, and Climate Week Commission Co-Chair said, "“Listening to communities and developing local solutions is a priority for CCMAC as we create the Climate Action Plan."
    One of the events involving this island is a webinar titled: High elevation Hawaiian plant communities: implications for conservation under climate change. See all of the events around the state at https://climate.hawaii.gov/hawai%ca%bbi-climate-week-2024/

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GOV. JOSH GREEN IS IN JAPAN FOR A WEEK TO PROMOTE MORE TOURISM TO HAWAI'I. He flew to Hawai'i March 15 and is scheduled to return this Saturday, March 23, after meetings with business officials and government leaders. A statement from his office says the Governor is "pushing forward with his efforts to lower barriers to travel between Japan and Hawai‘i. In partnership with the U.S. government, the Japan government and private industry, Governor Green is committed to strengthening the bond between Hawai‘i and Japan, by enhancing tourism and fostering shared economic growth."

Gov. Josh Green and First Lady Jaime Green are in Japan for a week to meet with
government and business officials to foster increased tourism to Hawai'i.
Photo from the Governor's office

    The statement says he is fostering stronger ties between Japan and Hawai‘i and said, “Japan and the Japanese people are part of our ‘ohana due to our historic connections, economic ties and culture, and we are committed to enhancing travel through our ‘Travel Corridor’ concept. By expanding Global Entry, integrating biometric screening, and pursuing preclearance status, we are making travel more efficient, convenient and secure for Japanese citizens visiting Hawai‘i.”
    Green continues pursuit of pre-clearance status between Hawai‘i and partner airports such as Haneda Airport in Tokyo. Pre-clearance is a program administered by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that allows travelers to undergo customs and immigration inspections at their departure airport, rather than upon arrival in the United States. "This initiative has been successfully implemented in 15 different locations across six partner countries, and has been proven to streamline the travel process, reduce wait times and enhance the overall travel experience," says the statement from the governor.
    "Key among Governor Green’s initiatives is the expansion of Global Entry for Japanese citizens," says the statement from his office. "Global Entry, a trusted traveler program administered by CBP, expedites the customs and immigration process for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States. The benefits of holding Global Entry status include no processing lines, no paperwork, reduced wait-times, and PreCheck via the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Currently, Global Entry status is allowed for up to 1,500 Japanese citizens. The Biden Administration and Japan’s government are collaborating to find a way to expand Global Entry to Japanese citizens by removing the cap by late 2024. This will streamline entry for Japanese citizens into Hawai‘i and the rest of the United States."
    Hawai‘i Department of Transportation is also working to leverage CBP’s Mobile Passport Control through advanced biometric collection and exploring new partnerships with TSA to enhance the traveler experience, reduce wait times and increase security. "Biometric screening technology offers a secure and efficient means of verifying travelers’ identities and improving border security, while expediting the screening process and reducing costs. Additionally, HDOT has begun a review of the international passenger journey for specific recommendations that can enhance the traveler experience and increase facilitation," says the statement.

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THE BILL TO PUT MORE TEETH INTO VICIOUS DOG LAW passed the state Senate Committee on the Judiciary on Tuesday and goes on to a conference committee. Failing to to control a dog that kills a human would become a felony and net up to five years in prison. A dangerous dog would be defined as

Bob Northrop was killed last Aug. 1 in Ocean
View by four dogs as he walked to a friend's house.

“any dog that, without provocation, causes a bite injury to a person or another animal.” The measure would also establish misdemeanor penalties for allowing dogs to injure a person or kill an animal.
    During the hearing on Tuesday, Attorney Teresa Tico testified in support of Bill 2058 making it a felony to allow dogs to hurt people. She works with a hui, including Sharon Matson whose father Bob Northrop was killed by a pack of dogs in Ocean View. They aim to reduce the number of dog attacks in Hawai'i.

    Tico relayed that in a separate attack in Hawai'i two months ago, a pit bull in a pack of dogs grabbed a doctor and severed an artery in his leg, but charges still have not been brought against the dog owner. He nearly bled out and almost died, said the attending EMTs. The victim suffered 47 dog bite wounds and received 17 staples. Tico said the number of dog bite cases in Hawai'i has risen since Covid, but since the offense is only a petty misdemeanor, there is no deterrence.

    Tico said she sees time and time again that prosecutors and defense attorneys plea bargain the case down to a leash law violation, even for injuries inflicted on children with facial disfigurements for the rest of their lives. She said that the felony is needed to deter people from letting dangerous dogs run loose.

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Tree Molds Road area will be closed on weekdays from this Thursday into April. Map from NPS

RESTRICTION OF VEHICLES FROM TREE MOLDS RECREATIONAL AREA OFF MAUNA LOA ROAD will begin this Thursday, March 21 on weekdays from 7:30 am. to 3:30 p.m..Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park announced the temporary closure due to heavy equipment operations for the Park's Disaster Recovery Project.
    "Pedestrians will be allowed access but must use caution and yield to trucks and machinery on the roadway," says the Park statement. The closure to vehicles is expected to last through early April.
Outside of the restricted 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on weekdays, the road and Tree Molds area will be open to vehicles at all other times.
    Work continues on Phase One of the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park Disaster Recovery Project and traffic safety and infrastructure upgrades. The latest project updates include establishing a materials staging area at the former horse corral off Mauna Loa Road.
Construction closures and delays are updated on the park's new construction webpage: https://www.nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/construction-closures.htm?fbclid=IwAR0EX87hntI2rgwuZ9nZUxvd90a0U2aW0tJSd9wwpOvX2GWKIrYRk9OzdxY

New construction in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park has led to a new website on the progress 
and road and trail closures. NPS map 

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HPD ARRESTED 13 MOTORISTS MARCH 11-17. Hawai‘i Police Department arrested 13 for driving under the influence of an intoxicant. Four of the drivers were involved in a traffic accident. Three were

under the age of 21. So far this year, there have been 197 DUI arrests compared with 224 during the same period last year, a decrease of 12.1 percent.
   HPD's Traffic Services Section reviewed all updated crashes and found 205 major crashes so far this year, compared with 200 during the same time last year, an increase of 2.5 percent.
    To date, there were eight fatal crashes, resulting in eight fatalities, compared with four fatal crashes, resulting in five fatalities (one of which had multiple deaths) for the same time last year. This represents an increase of 100 percent for fatal crashes and 60 percent for fatalities.
    In 2024, the non-traffic fatality count (not on a public roadway) is zero compared to zero non-traffic fatalities for the same time last year.
    HPD promises that DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue island wide.

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