Kona Community Policing Section to Hold Kupuna Watch Meeting Jan. 21

Hawaiʻi Police Department’s Kona Community Policing Section will hold its next monthly Kupuna Watch meeting on Wednesday, Jan., 21, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., at Hale Hālāwai, 75-5670 Ali‘i Drive, Kailua-Kona.

An outreach program in partnership with the County of Hawaiʻi Department of Parks and Recreation’s Elderly Activities Division, these free monthly meetings provide an opportunity for officers to engage with kūpuna during their regularly scheduled activities at various County facilities in Kona.

During these sessions, officers discuss crime and traffic trends, the importance of reporting elder abuse, as well as ways to identify and prevent financial and internet crimes. In addition to Community Policing Officers, each monthly meeting features personnel from different areas of the police department to explain their particular areas of expertise. Past attendees include members of the Juvenile Aid Section and the Criminal Investigation Section. This month’s guest speaker will be Interim Police Chief Reed Mahuna.

The goal is to strengthen trust, promote safety, and build positive relationships through direct, face-to-face interaction.

“Our commitment to keeping our kupuna safe is essential, as they are a treasured part of our community,” said Kona Community Policing Section Sergeant Wyattlane Nahale.

Launched in November 2025, these meetings have been very well received by the community with dozens of seniors attending since the program’s inception.