Members of the public helped the Hawaii Police Department celebrate Police Week on Friday (May 16) at the Kealakehe police station in Kona.

In a moving ceremony, Chief Lawrence K. Mahuna paid tribute to the four officers in the Hawaii Police Department who were killed in the line of duty. They are Manuel Cadinha (killed in 1918), William “Red” Oili (killed in 1936), Ronald “Shige” Jitchaku (killed in 1990), and Kenneth Keliipio (killed in 1997).

“Four officers over 90 years, that’s not a bad track record, but it’s still four too many,” Mahuna said. “My job is to make sure it remains at four.”

Police Week is a nationally recognized week of activities in support of police work and in recognition of officers who have died or been disabled in the line of duty. In 1962, President John F. Kennedy proclaimed every May 15th as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week it falls in as Police Week.

Mahuna made it clear, however, that Cadinha, Oili, Jitchaku and Keliipio are not remembered only during Police Week. “We think of them all year,” he said. “We think of them every day of our lives.”

After making his remarks, the chief lit four candles in honor of the fallen officers. He and the other officers in attendance then saluted during the playing of “Taps.”

Following the formal ceremony, police presented a demonstration by the department’s Special Response Team, offered various displays for public inspection and fed the guests.