Hawai'i Island Arrests 21 Drivers for DUI
Police made the arrests during an island-wide enforcement week as year-to-date DUI arrests fell 13% from last year.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Drug Crime
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Hawai'i Island police arrested 21 motorists for driving under the influence during the week of Oct. 19 to 25. Year-to-date DUI arrests total 651, compared with 748 during the same period last year.
Why it matters
Traffic fatalities on Hawai'i Island are a concern for residents across the state, and enforcement efforts are aimed at reducing impaired driving. Eight of the 21 drivers arrested were involved in a traffic accident, underscoring the risks on local roads.
Police tallies show 651 year-to-date DUI arrests against 748 last year, a 13% drop, while major crashes fell about 4% to 793 from 827. Fatal crashes rose to 26 with 28 deaths as of Oct. 25, compared with 17 crashes and 18 deaths in the same period last year, and the reasons for the increase were not reported.
The players
Hawai'i Police Department
The Hawai'i Police Department is the county law enforcement agency serving Hawai'i Island, responsible for traffic enforcement and crash investigation across the island.
The details
DUI roadblocks and patrols were conducted island-wide during the week of Oct. 19 to 25. The Hawai'i Police Department's Traffic Services Section reviewed crash and fatality data as part of the enforcement effort. None of the 21 drivers arrested were under the age of 21.
Timeline
Oct. 19 to 25, 2026: Week of 21 DUI arrests on Hawai'i Island.
Oct. 25, 2026: Cutoff date for year-to-date fatal crash and fatality counts.
Legal Context
The arrests fall under Hawai'i's ongoing island-wide DUI roadblock and patrol program, which police say will continue. Year-to-date arrests are running below last year's pace even as fatal crashes have risen sharply.
Drivers on Hawai'i Island should expect continued DUI roadblocks and patrols across the island. Residents traveling on local roads face heightened enforcement as fatal crash counts remain elevated compared with last year.
The takeaway
Impaired driving remains a central risk on Hawai'i Island roads, and drivers can reduce danger by arranging a sober ride before drinking. Even as DUI arrests decline, the rise in fatal crashes is a reminder to drive attentively.
What happens next
DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue island-wide.
Further reading
For related coverage of impaired driving enforcement, see Drug Crime reporting from across the state.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Big Island Now | Big Island News and Information.
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