WAILEA, Hawaiʻi — MADD Hawaiʻi honored officers, deputy sheriffs and community partners from across the state during its annual Law Enforcement Recognition ceremony, according to Maui Now.
The ceremony was held Thursday, June 25, at the Grand Wailea Waldorf Astoria Resort and welcomed nearly 100 guests, Maui Now reported. The recognition focused on people MADD Hawaiʻi said had gone above and beyond in the fight against impaired driving.
Statewide honorees recognized for traffic-safety work
Maui Now reported that 15 honorees were recognized, including officers from multiple counties, deputy sheriffs, a deputy prosecuting attorney and a community partner.
This year’s Lifetime Achievement Award went to Maui Police Department Sergeant Stephen Kelly for outstanding service and long-standing dedication to traffic safety and impaired-driving enforcement, according to the report.
Maui Now also reported that Honolulu Police Department Officer Kukilakilakuumakuakane Serrao received MADD Hawaiʻi’s new Rookie of the Year award for what the organization described as strong work early in his career.
“The individuals we honored each play a critical role in protecting lives and promoting safety on our roadways,” Makena Young, MADD Hawaiʻi program director, said in the report. “Their work makes a real and lasting impact in our communities.”
Award recipients listed by MADD Hawaiʻi
- Sergeant Stephen Kelly – Maui County
- Officer Jonathan Nasu – Honolulu City & County
- Officer Joshua Zara – Honolulu City & County
- Officer Kukilakilakuumakuakane Serrao – Honolulu City & County
- Deputy Sheriff Matthew Vasconcelles – Honolulu City & County
- Deputy Sheriff Tyler Len – Honolulu City & County
- Deputy Sheriff Nicholas Pregill – Honolulu City & County
- Officer Joshua Kalb – Maui County
- Officer Ryan Tsang – Maui County
- Officer Brad Taylor – Maui County
- Officer Adam Roberg – Hawaiʻi County
- Officer Kalani J. L. Scanlan – Kauaʻi County
- Officer Desmond K. Thain – Kauaʻi County
- Andrew Martin, Prosecuting Attorney – Maui County
- Maui Coalition for Drug Free Youth – Maui County
The ceremony also included remarks from Mayor Richard Bissen, Deputy Director Robin Shishido, Andrea Maniago and Antonio Williams, according to Maui Now, and opened with a presentation of colors by Civil Air Patrol Maui County Composite Squadron 057.
For ThinBlueNews readers, the ceremony highlights a quieter side of police and deputy sheriff work: consistent impaired-driving enforcement, partnerships with prosecutors and prevention groups, and traffic-safety efforts aimed at keeping families from facing the worst knock at the door.
Sources reviewed
- Maui Now: “MADD Hawaiʻi honors law enforcement and community leaders in statewide ceremony”
- Published MADD Hawaiʻi ceremony photo via Maui Now
Editorial note: ThinBlueNews used source-backed public recognition details and the real published ceremony photo with attribution. No private enforcement records, unverified incident claims, AI-generated law-enforcement imagery, paid promotion, DMs or outbound messages were used.