Big Island honors fallen law enforcement officers

HILO — Honoring fallen law enforcement officers each year may seem routine for some, Hawaii Police Chief Harry Kubojiri told a crowd of about 45 at the Hilo police station on Monday.

But for the men and women who serve their communities, its importance never wanes, the chief added.

“This is and will always be a momentous occasion every year,” he said.

Kubojiri was speaking during the Police Department’s annual Police Week ceremony, May 13-19.

The event, held in conjunction with countless others across the United States, occurs each year to remember the thousands of police officers who gave their lives in the line of duty, including four from the Big Island.

Flags will be flown at half-staff today across the nation for Peace Officers Memorial Day, which coincides with Police Week.

To commemorate their sacrifice, Hawaii police officers fired a 21-gun salute, which was followed by relatives and descendants of Hawaii County’s fallen officers — William “Red” Oili, Manuel Cadinha, Ronald “Shige” Jitchaku and Kenneth Keliipio — lighting candles.

Taps was also played.

Kubojiri told the crowd the loss of every officer is tragic and that the department should not consider itself lucky to have only lost four.

He also said he served with both Jitchaku, who died in 1990, and Keliipio, who died in 1997, adding that their deaths were “surreal.”

“One day I was talking and laughing with them and the next day they were no longer with us,” Kubojiri said.

“I pray that everyone of you makes it to your loved ones every day,” he later told his officers.

Raynette Taketa teared up after lighting a candle for her great-grandfather, Oili.

Though she never knew him, Taketa, 51, said she wouldn’t pass a chance to honor his memory and “how great of a man he was.”

Oili drowned in 1937 while rescuing two men who had fallen off of a wharf in Hilo.

“He was too exhausted to save himself,” she said.

Oili was on duty at the time yet his death was largely forgotten until 2004 when Taketa unearthed the story of the rescue in the Hilo Tribune.

He was added to the list of fallen officers the following year.

Peter Rodrigues and Roxane Poaha, grandchildren of Oili, said they didn’t know him growing up.

“We can get to know him … to be here and honor him,” Poaha said.

Mayor Billy Kenoi was unable to attend the ceremony.

County Managing Director William Takaba spoke in his place.

“We are very proud of your accomplishments and sleep well at night because of you,” Takaba said.

Cadinha, the first Big Island officer to be killed in the line of duty, died in 1918.

A similar ceremony will be held Thursday in Kona.