Mothers Against Drunk Driving honors 3 Hawai‘i Police Department officers

Three members of Hawai‘i Police Department were recently honored by Mothers Against Drunk Driving Hawai‘i and Hawai‘i Department of Transportation for their efforts and dedication in the fight against drunk and drugged driving to reduce injuries and deaths on Big Island roadways.

Hawai‘i Police Department officers honored were Hilo Patrol Officer Lawrence Kobayashi, South Kohala Patrol Officer Landon Takenishi and Area II Traffic Enforcement Unit Sgt. Thomas Koyanagi, who received the Mothers Against Drunk Driving Lifetime Achievement Award.

The trio were among 18 law enforcement officers recognized June 21 during a luncheon in Honolulu.

Koyanagi is a 24-year veteran of the department and worked in the Area II Traffic Enforcement Unit from 2008 to 2014. He has led the unit since 2018, and established Hawai‘i Police Department’s Drug Recognition Expert Instructor Development Course in 2021, serving as drug recognition expert school coordinator in 2022.

The sergeant also established the department’s “Green Lab” Cannabis Detection Workshop in 2024, a first in the state.

Koyanagi was recognized by Mothers Against Drunk Driving on six previous occasions for Law Enforcement Unit of the Year in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

Kobayashi has worked in the South Hilo District for most of his 24-year career with Hawai‘i Police Department and is known for his dedicated traffic and impaired driver enforcement.

He was named Hilo Patrol Top Traffic Enforcer for 2023 and 2024 and previously honored by Mothers Against Drunk Driving in 2018 and 2019.

Takenishi is certified as a drug recognition expert and received specialized training to detect signs of impairment in drivers who might have used substances other than alcohol.

In addition to being honored by MADD, the 13-year veteran of Hawai‘i Police Department assigned to South Kohala Patrol was recognized by the Hawai‘i Island Safety and Security Professionals Association three times as Officer of the Quarter, including Quarter 2 2024 for his persistence and determination in keeping Big Island roadways safe.

“Conducting traffic enforcement can be dangerous and is often a thankless job,” said Police Chief Benjamin Moszkowicz in the announcement about the trio’s honors, adding, “it is important, and I am firmly convinced it saves lives. Any time we can take a dangerous impaired driver off the road, it makes the community a safer place.

“[Mothers Against Drunk Driving] Hawai‘i is such a fantastic partner in the fight to end impaired driving. I am proud of the work put in by Sgt. Koyanagi and Officers Kobayashi and Takenishi. These awards are well-deserved.”