The Aloha Exchange Club of East Hawaii recognized Officer Kelly Moniz as Officer of the Year and Kyle Vares as Firefighter of the Year in a dinner ceremony Thursday evening. ADVERTISING The Aloha Exchange Club of East Hawaii recognized Officer
The Aloha Exchange Club of East Hawaii recognized Officer Kelly Moniz as Officer of the Year and Kyle Vares as Firefighter of the Year in a dinner ceremony Thursday evening.
Moniz, a 10-year police veteran, is assigned to the Area I Vice Section in Hilo. Vares joined the Fire Department in 2008 and is a fire prevention inspector in East Hawaii.
During a ceremony at Nani Mau Gardens, Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi presented certificates of commendation from his office and called Moniz and Vares “wonderful examples of leaders of our community.” Each honoree received a plaque from the Aloha Exchange Club, a gift basket of donated items from local businesses and certificates of commendation from the governor’s office, the State House, the State Senate and the Hawaii County Council.
Moniz’s award was for a two-year investigation that led to the arrest and indictments of high-level drug traffickers responsible for distributing large quantities of methamphetamine to Hawaii users.
The investigation began in May 2012, when an individual arrested for possessing a small amount of crystal methamphetamine cooperated with law enforcement. Over the next several months, Moniz was able to identify two larger suppliers, including one who dealt in multi-ounce-to-pound quantities of the drug and flew to Las Vegas to import the drug to Hawaii.
His role in a multi-agency investigation led to the seizure of 4.7 pounds of crystal methamphetamine, 10 pounds of liquid crystal methamphetamine, four ounces of heroin and $53,000 cash for forfeiture.
All three suspects are being held at the federal detention center while awaiting trail in federal court.
Moniz thanked the Aloha Exchange Club, his family and the department, and said, “Since joining the Police Department, the only thing I really wanted to do was work in vice.”
Fire Inspector Vares was honored for his “exuberant positive attitude” while working with the public to prevent fires.
When he was promoted to Fire Prevention Inspector I in August 2013, Vares was tasked with a community program to assist in the installation of smoke detectors in the homes of the elderly. Under his leadership and commitment, he partnered with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union. Collaboratively they installed smoke detectors in about 75 East Hawaii homes.
In accepting his award, Vares thanked the Aloha Exchange Club for honoring him, his coworkers and supervisors for encouraging him, his friends and family for supporting him, and Fire Chief Darren Rosario for recognizing his bureau, which he said is not a part of the Fire Department that’s glamorized in movies.
“I find it a blessing to work in the Fire Prevention Bureau,” he said.
