MADD Honors Three Hawai‘i Police Department Officers for Efforts Curbing Impaired Driving

Three members of Hawai‘i Police Department (HPD) were honored this past weekend by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Hawai‘i and the state Department of Transportation for their efforts and dedication in the fight against drunk and drugged driving to reduce injuries and deaths on our island roadways.    

The trio, two patrol officers and a sergeant, were among 18 honored at a statewide law enforcement recognition luncheon in Honolulu on Saturday, June 21, 2025. Hawai‘i Police Department officers recognized include, Hilo Patrol Officer Lawrence Kobayashi, South Kohala Patrol Officer Landon Takenishi, and Area II Traffic Enforcement Unit Sergeant Thomas Koyanagi, who received the MADD Lifetime Achievement Award.

Koyanagi is the first-ever Hawai‘i Island recipient of the MADD Lifetime Achievement Award. A 24-year-veteran of the department, he worked in the Area II Traffic Enforcement Unit (TEU) from 2008 to 2014 and has led the unit since 2018. He established Hawai‘i Police Department’s Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) Instructor Development Course in 2021 and served as DRE School Coordinator in 2022. He also established the department’s “Green Lab” Cannabis Detection Workshop in 2024, a first in the state of Hawai‘i. Koyanagi was recognized by MADD on six previous occasions for Law Enforcement Unit of the Year in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014.

Officer Kobayashi has worked in the South Hilo district for most of his 24-year-career with HPD and is known for his dedicated traffic and impaired driver enforcement. Kobayashi was named the Hilo Patrol Top Traffic Enforcer for 2023 and 2024 and was previously honored by MADD in 2018 and 2019.

Assigned to South Kohala Patrol and a 13-year veteran of the department, Officer Takenishi is a certified as a Drug Recognition Expert and has received specialized training to detect signs of impairment in drivers who may have used substances other than alcohol. In addition to being honored by MADD, Officer Takenishi has been recognized by the Hawaii Island Safety and Security Professionals Association (HISSPA) three times as Officer of the Quarter, including Q2 2024 for his persistence and determination in keeping our roadways safe.

“Conducting traffic enforcement can be dangerous and is often a thankless job,” said Police Chief Benjamin Moszkowicz, adding “it is important and I am firmly convinced it saves lives. Any time we can take a dangerous impaired driver off the road, it makes the community a safer place.”

“MADD Hawai‘i is such a fantastic partner in the fight to end impaired driving. I am proud of the work put in by Sergeant Koyanagi and Officers Kobayashi and Takenishi. These awards are well deserved.”