Share this story

Three Hawaii Police Department recently were honored by Mothers Against Drunk Driving Hawaii and the state Department of Transportation for their efforts and dedication in the fight against drunken and drugged driving to reduce injuries and deaths on our island roadways.

The trio — two patrol officers and a sergeant — were among 18 honored at a statewide law enforcement recognition luncheon June 21 in Honolulu. The three are: Hilo Patrol Officer Lawrence Kobayashi, South Kohala Patrol Officer Landon Takenishi and West Hawaii Traffic Enforcement Unit Sgt. Thomas Koyanagi, who received the MADD Lifetime Achievement Award.

ADVERTISING

Koyanagi is the first Hawaii Island recipient of the MADD Lifetime Achievement Award. A 24-year HPD veteran, he worked in the West Hawaii TEU from 2008 to 2014 and has led the unit since 2018. He established HPD’s Drug Recognition Expert Instructor Development Course in 2021 and served as DRE School Coordinator in 2022. He also established the department’s “Green Lab” Cannabis Detection Workshop in 2024, a first in the state.

Koyanagi was recognized by MADD on six previous occasions for Law Enforcement Unit of the Year, every year from 2009 to 2014.

Kobayashi has worked in the South Hilo district for most of his 24-year HPD career and is known for his dedicated traffic and impaired driver enforcement. Kobayashi was named the Hilo Patrol Top Traffic Enforcer for 2023 and 2024 and was previously honored by MADD in 2018 and 2019.

A 13-year veteran of the department, Takenishi is a certified as a drug recognition expert and has received specialized training to detect signs of impairment in drivers who may have used substances other than alcohol.

In addition to being honored by MADD, Takenishi has been recognized by the Hawaii Island Safety and Security Professionals Association three times as Officer of the Quarter for his persistence and determination in keeping our roadways safe.

“Conducting traffic enforcement can be dangerous and is often a thankless job,” said Police Chief Benjamin Moszkowicz in a news release. “It is important, and I am firmly convinced it saves lives. Any time we can take a dangerous impaired driver off the road, it makes the community a safer place.”