Police seek Kona assault suspect
Police are seeking the public’s assistance to identify a man suspected of an assault last week at a Kailua-Kona beach.
Around 6:03 p.m. Saturday, May 6, police received a report of an unidentified man who allegedly assaulted a patron at a beach located off of Hulikoa Street.
The suspect was captured on a video recording that documented a portion of the incident.
The man is described as possibly being in his late 30s or early 40s, with a thin build and light-brown complexion, and a tattoo on his right shoulder that resembles scales.
The man was last seen shirtless, wearing black shorts.
Anyone with information is asked to call the police nonemergency number at (808) 935-3311 or Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.
Police now using pickup trucks as duty vehicles
Hawaii Police Department announced Thursday that effective immediately, police officers are now authorized to use pickup trucks with an open bed as subsidized police vehicles. In the coming weeks, Hawaii Island residents may see more subsidized police pickup trucks on the road and more officers driving pick-up trucks with blue lights and sirens while on patrol.
Officers are authorized to use “crew cab” configurations with four full sized doors, including the following models:
• 2021-2023 Ford F150 Crew Cab, short bed
• 2021-2023 Toyota Tundra Crew Cab
• 2019-2023 Chevrolet Silverado, 1500 Crew Cab, short bed
• 2019-2023 GMC Sierra 1500 Crew Cab, short bed
• 2019-2023 Ram 1500 (5th Generation/non-classic) Crew Cab short bed
“Given that Hawaii Island encompasses vast swaths of rural—and very rugged—terrain, we anticipate our police officers will be able to serve the community better, faster, and most importantly, safer,” said Police Chief Benjamin Moszkowicz.
If motorists see one of these police vehicles in their rear-view mirror with blue emergency lights illuminated, please slow down, and pull over. Officers operating pickup trucks with blue lights atop the vehicle should be in uniform.
If you are unsure about a police vehicle, slow down, pull over, and call the police non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311 to verify the officer’s license plate.
HVO reports summit inflation, elevated earthquake activity at Kilauea
By MICHAEL BRESTOVANSKY- Hawaii Tribune-Herald
Restlessness at the summit of Kilauea volcano does not necessarily indicate an imminent eruption, according to Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists.
HVO reported in updates throughout the week that the summit of Kilauea has been slowly and steadily inflating, accompanied by an “elevated” rate of earthquakes in the area.
On Thursday, HVO reported that the level of summit inflation has exceeded that recorded on Jan. 5, immediately preceding the most recent summit eruption, which paused on March 7.
But HVO Scientist in Charge Ken Hon said the activity on the volcano doesn’t mean that it is gearing up for a new eruption.
“It doesn’t necessarily mean anything,” Hon said. “We’re not seeing anything indicative of an imminent eruption, although we know that eruptions may only give us warning signs like 45 minutes in advance.”
Hon said the inflation at the summit indicates that magma is repressurizing beneath the volcano, and that while increasing inflation correlates to an increased chance of eruption, it is not a guarantee.
“There’s nothing magical about that Jan. 5 inflation number, either,” Hon added.
“Mostly, we just wanted to draw people’s attention to the fact that Kilauea’s still there,” Hon said. “So, that if there is an eruption, people aren’t surprised.”
Email Michael Brestovansky at mbrestovansky@hawaiitribune-herald.com.