Police arrest 33 for suspected DUI

Police arrested 33 motorists for suspected drunken driving between Dec. 27, 2021, and Sunday. Six of the drivers were involved in traffic crashes and three were younger than age 21.

Kona officers arrested a dozen drivers while Puna officers arrested five and South Hilo officers three, according to data released by the Hawaii Police Department. Meanwhile, South Kohala officers arrested two drivers and North Kohala and Hamakua officers arrested one driver in each district.

During 2021, there were 1,081 arrests for DUI, up nearly 8% from 2020, and 814 major crashes, up just under 5%.

During 2021, there were 26 fatalities on Big Island public roadways, compared with 15 fatal crashes in 2020.

This represents an increase of 73.3% for fatalities.

The Big Island has already marked one death in 2022 following a single-vehicle crash on Mauna Kea Access Road that left a 9-year-old girl dead and seven injured.