Service for slain officer set for Aug. 4 in Hilo

KAILUA-KONA — A new venue has been designated for memorial service for Hawaii Police Officer Bronson K. Kaliloa, who died in the line of duty on July 17.

The Aug. 4 service will now be held at Hilo Civic Auditorium to accommodate a larger than anticipated attendance, according to the Hawaii Police Department. The auditorium is located at 323 Manono St.

General visitation will take place from 8:30 to 10 a.m. following family only visitation from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. A service will follow from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

Following the service, there will be a funeral procession leaving the Civic Auditorium, traveling out to the Puna District passing the Pahoa Police Station, and then back into Hilo passing the Hilo Police Station and ending at Homelani Cemetery for the burial service to follow. The funeral procession will be limited to family members and first responders, however, the burial service will be open to the public as well.

Kaliloa, a 10-year veteran of the department, was gunned down around 9:45 p.m. July 17 during a traffic stop on Highway 11 in Mountain View. The suspect in the shooting, Justin Waiki, was killed Friday in a shootout with police in the South Point area.

Kaliloa, who joined the department in August 2008, is the first Big Island police officer shot and killed in the line of duty. Honored as Puna patrol officer of the year in 2014, he is survived by his wife, Casey, three children and his parents.