Three Officers Honored by Aloha Exchange Club of East Hawai‘i in Q2 2025

Three Hawai‘i Island police officers were recognized by the Aloha Exchange Club of East Hawai‘i for their investigative skill, life-saving efforts, and outstanding performance during the second quarter of 2025. All three officers were honored during a luncheon in Hilo on July 31, 2025. Officer Makena Nahooikaika was honored as Officer of the Month for April 2025, Officer Lauren Antolin for May 2025, and Officer Devon Manuel for June 2025.

Officer Makena Nahooikaika

Recognized for her exceptional initiative, dedication, and strong problem-solving skills, South Hilo Patrol Officer Makena Nahooikaika was honored for an April 2025 fraud case that ultimately led to the arrest of a suspect involved in multiple instances of identity theft.
After a couple reported an unauthorized charge to their credit card in excess of $1,500, Officer Nahooikaika traced the source to a receptionist at a local medical office, who had used the card information to pay her rent through a mobile app. Even after her regular shift week ended, Officer Nahooikaika voluntarily returned on her day off to continue the investigation.
Her thorough follow-up work led to the suspect’s arrest and the identification of at least seven additional potential victims, with more than $3,000 in suspected fraudulent transactions. The suspect was subsequently charged with multiple offenses, including theft, identity theft, and credit card fraud.

A four-year veteran of the department, Officer Nahooikaika’s willingness to take on a complex investigation and her proactive approach to addressing criminal activity reflect a strong commitment to the safety and well-being of Hawai‘i Island residents, visitors, and businesses.

Officer Lauren Antolin

Puna Patrol Officer Lauren Antolin was recognized for her quick thinking and life-saving actions during a May 2025 welfare check in Mountain View. A nine-year veteran of the department, Antolin conducted a welfare check after police dispatch received a call from a woman in Michigan who hadn’t heard from her elderly sister in nearly a day. The woman was concerned because the pair spoke daily and the sister reported she had fallen the previous day.

Arriving on scene, the house appeared unusually quiet with the lights off. Relying on her training and experience, Officer Antolin felt something was off about the situation. She discovered an open door and entered the residence where she discovered the 73-year-old woman collapsed and unresponsive. The victim was in critical condition. Officer Antolin’s compassionate persistence likely saved the woman’s life.

Known among her colleagues for her professionalism and aloha, Officer Antolin’s actions are a testament to her deep commitment to public safety and community care.

Officer Devon Manuel

South Hilo Patrol Officer Devon Manuel was recognized for his exceptional work in two separate cases that led to multiple arrests and the recovery of stolen vehicles and narcotics. In early June 2025 while responding to a request to trespass an individual at a Hilo business, Officer Manuel recognized a man not connected to the original call who was wanted on multiple arrest warrants and was known to be armed and dangerous.

After a brief foot pursuit, Officer Manuel apprehended the man, and while arresting him noticed the man was trying to conceal a vehicle key fob that matched a stolen rental car. In addition to the three outstanding arrest warrants and three bench warrants, the man was also arrested for auto theft, theft, habitual property crime, and two drug offenses.

Just days later, while on patrol with a recruit, Officer Manuel located and recovered a separate stolen vehicle, apprehending two suspects after a foot pursuit. A subsequent search led to the discovery of drugs and additional evidence linked to ongoing investigations. Officer Manuel’s strong observational skills and swift action were pivotal in protecting the community and advancing several criminal cases. He is a four-year-veteran of the department.

Every month the Aloha Exchange Club of East Hawai‘i honors a police officer in East Hawaii as their officer of the month. Officers are nominated by their supervisors from the police districts in Area I, including Hāmākua, North Hilo, South Hilo, and Puna.