This Labor Day weekend the Hawai‘i County Police Department (HPD) is reminding motorists to drive safely.

As part of the department’s ongoing efforts to educate citizens about the dangers of impaired driving, speeding, and all forms of reckless driving, HPD has partnered with the State of Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation, police departments from Kauaʻi, Honolulu, and Maui counties, as well as MADD Hawai‘i in a “No Excuses Hawaiʻi” campaign.

On Thursday, September 2, 2021 and Friday, September 3,2021, officers and community members will be conducting sign waiving events in Waimea, Honoka‘a, Kea‘au, Hilo, and Kona to encourage drivers to slow down and to not drive impaired. On Friday, September 3, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., the family members of Cassie Ellis and Phoenix Hauanio, who each were killed in separate vehicle crashes, will be attending the sign waving event on Kuakini Highway in Kona.

Officers will be conducting additional patrols focusing on impaired driving, speeding and any dangerous driving behavior across Hawaiʻi Island. When they see a driver they believe to be under the influence they will stop them. If an officer determines a driver is under the influence of an intoxicating substance they will be arrested and taken to jail.