KAILUA-KONA — It was a relatively quiet New Year’s Eve in Kona, at least proverbially.
Police reported only five arrests over the holiday bridging this year and the last. Officers picked up Chad Hose, 42, for drunken driving. Sgt. Grad Elarionoff said reports indicate Hose got into two separate accidents with two different vehicles, leaving the scene both times.
Hose was arrested for driving with a suspended license, driving without motor vehicle insurance, two counts of accident involving damage to a vehicle or property and one count of habitual DUI.
Police arrested Noah Gauthier for disorderly conduct as well as Sham Freitas, who they picked up on bench warrants for two counts of contempt of court and one count of probational bail.
Officers also arrested Jason Sanchis for contempt of court and John Broadfoot for criminal contempt.
While Kona streets were relatively clear of metaphorical fireworks, they were chalk full of the literal kind. It’s a problem cops do their best to handle, but one that has become ubiquitous across the island.
“There was just a lot of illegal fireworks calls,” Elarionoff said. “(Police) respond where they can when they can, but there’s just too much.”
No fires resulted from all the sparks and lit fuses within the district, but two burned further north — one outside of Waikoloa Village and another above Hawaiian Homes in Kawaihae.
Hawaii Fire Department Battalion Chief Michael Grace said both fires occurred on open land, adding there were no injuries and no structures involved in either blaze.
He said the fire in Waikoloa Village began “fairly early” Monday evening but couldn’t provide an exact time or acreage, while the one in Kawaihae began a little after 1 a.m. Tuesday.
“We’re using a helicopter, we got a couple (bulldozers) on it, we got some units on the ground putting out some hot spots,” said Grace of the 18-acre fire in Kawaihae, offering his comment around 11 a.m. Tuesday. “Basically the fire’s out … we’re just taking care of the hot spots.”
Another source within HFD said both fires were contained as of 1 p.m. Tuesday, but added firefighters remained on site in Kawaihae. The causes behind the two fires were not immediately available.
A third fire began a little after 3:30 p.m. Tuesday near the Waikoloa fire station. No details were available by press time.