Public Invited to Attend Police Week Festivities

Hawai‘i Island residents and visitors are invited to attend 2025 Police Week festivities, including station tours, during the national event Monday, May 12, through Friday, May 16, 2025.

Police Week is a nationally recognized week of activities in support of police work and in recognition of officers who have died or been disabled in the line of duty. In 1962, President John F. Kennedy proclaimed every May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week it falls in as National Police Week. In Hawaiʻi County, Police Week activities will take place from Monday, May 12, through Friday, May 16, 2025.

The public is invited to attend formal Police Week ceremonies on Monday, May 12, at 10:00 a.m., at the Hilo police station and Friday, May 16, at 11:00 a.m. at the West Hawaii Civic Center. Both ceremonies include pre-ceremony entertainment and a tribute to Hawaiʻi County officers who gave their lives in the line of duty.

Police will pay tribute to:

    Captain T.N. Simeona, who gave his life in 1890.

    Officer Michol Octobre, who gave his life in 1916.

    Officer Manuel Cadinha, who gave his life in 1918.

    Officer William “Red” Oili, who gave his life in 1936.

    Officer Ronald “Shige” Jitchaku, who gave his life in 1990.

    Officer Kenneth Keliipio, who gave his life in 1997.

    Park Ranger Steve Makuakane-Jarrell, who gave his life in 1999.

    Officer Bronson Kaimana Kaliloa, who was killed in the line of duty on July 18, 2018.

Bios of each fallen officer can be viewed on the police department’s website: https://www.hawaiipolice.gov/about-us/in-memoriam/

During Police Week, members of the public are encouraged to attend station tours at the Hilo Police station on Friday, May 16, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Call Officer Kaipokoka Aurello at (808) 961-3381, to schedule an appointment.