Officer Kelena Kealoha Recognized by HISSPA For Outstanding Investigative Skills

For his perseverance, determination, and investigative skills, South Kohala Patrol Officer Kelena Kealoha was recognized as the Officer of the Quarter for the first quarter of 2025 by the Hawai‘i Island Safety and Security Professionals Association (HISSPA) at a ceremony held Friday, June 20, 2025, in Kona.

On February 28, 2025, Officer Kealoha responded to a residence regarding a report of trespassing. The victim reported that the suspect had stolen and damaged items from within the garage. Officer Kealoha quickly and thoroughly conducted a preliminary investigation and obtained a description of the suspect. Knowing that time was of the essence, he searched for the suspect, who was located and arrested.

On March 1, 2025, Officer Kealoha received a report of a theft from within a vehicle. Based on the timeframe of when this incident occurred, along with the fact that the two scenes were near each other, Officer Kealoha suspected that the same individual he had arrested may have been responsible for both incidents.

Going above and beyond a police officer’s typical duties, Officer Kealoha obtained and executed a search warrant, which directly tied his arrestee to both cases. After conferring with the Hawai‘i County Prosecutor’s Office, the suspect was charged with burglary in the second degree, criminal tampering in the second degree, two counts of unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle in the second degree, criminal property damage in the second degree, criminal property damage in the fourth degree, three counts of theft in the second degree, and two counts of theft in the fourth degree. Bail was set at $27,400. Three additional offenses were generated and routed to the Hawai‘i County Prosecutor’s Office.

“Since transferring from Kona Patrol to South Kohala Patrol, Officer Kealoha has gone above and beyond the expectations of his position on several occasions to investigate, arrest, and charge suspects,” said Sergeant Anson Caceres, who nominated Officer Kealoha for this award. “His commitment to duty makes Hawai‘i Island a safe place to live, visit, and conduct business.”