Four West Hawai‘i Officers Honored by KCPC for 2025 Lifesaving Investigations

The Kona Crime Prevention Committee recognized four West Hawaiʻi officers for investigations and life‑saving responses linked to incidents in 2025, singling out Officer Charles Caldwell‑Kaʻai, Officer Tyler Meno, Officer Jason Cunefare and Officer Lawrence Matsumoto. Multiple local reports and Hawaiʻi Police Department materials tie the honors to events that occurred in 2025 and to monthly recognitions listed by HPD in early 2026.

Officer Charles Caldwell‑Kaʻai was highlighted for investigative work and a compassionate response tied to two unrelated incidents in August 2025. BigIslandNow reports he responded to an Aug. 1, 2025 disturbance at a Kona apartment complex after dispatch received a disconnected 911 call from a woman screaming for help, and that he observed a male suspect fleeing a second‑story window who was later identified as having outstanding warrants and a domestic‑violence history at the residence. HPD press material credits Caldwell‑Kaʻai with investigative work that led prosecutors to charge two suspects with unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle and first‑degree theft, and says the vehicles were recovered and returned to the victim. Big Island Video News reported KCPC named Caldwell‑Kaʻai the 2025 Police Officer of the Year at a ceremony on Sept. 10, 2025, and noted his service as a member of the 92nd recruit class with five years at HPD and prior KCPC Officer of the Month honors in Aug. 2021, Nov. 2021, July 2024 and Nov. 2024.

Officer Tyler Meno was among the KCPC honorees for 2025 work and is described in the reporting as an eight‑year Hawaiʻi Police Department veteran. BigIslandNow and HPD state this was Meno’s third Officer of the Month recognition, with prior awards in 2020 and January 2025. HPD materials list Meno as Officer of the Month for February 2026; the available extracts do not include specific incident narratives tied to the KCPC honor.

Officers Jason Cunefare and Lawrence Matsumoto were jointly honored for life‑saving actions during a welfare check in August 2025. BigIslandNow recounts that a co‑worker reported concern after an elderly man failed to report for work, a resident manager helped locate the apartment, Cunefare found the vehicle in its stall, entered the residence through a louvered window and discovered the man unresponsive and not breathing. HPD press material similarly notes both officers were recognized for life‑saving actions and includes a photo caption of Cunefare and Matsumoto in uniform wearing lei; HPD lists them as Officers of the Month for March 2026.

The KCPC selection process cited in local reports says supervisors nominate candidates from police districts and the committee’s board of directors selects the monthly Officer of the Month; all monthly honorees are eligible to be chosen as KCPC Officer of the Year. Sources present differing timeline labels: BigIslandNow and other reports frame the honors as recognition for 2025 incidents, HPD lists Officer of the Month months in Jan.–Mar. 2026 for these officers, and Big Island Video News reports a Sept. 10, 2025 ceremony naming Caldwell‑Kaʻai Officer of the Year. Hawaiʻi Police Department contact details appear in HPD materials as non‑emergency (808) 935‑3311, emergency 911, and the department address 349 Kapiʻolani Street, Hilo, HI 96720.