SUNDAY, AUGUST 5, 2018 WESTHAWAIITODAY.COM $1.50
Jamin Hiebert gives the eulogy for his uncle, fallen Hawaii Police Department Officer Bronson Kaliloa, Saturday at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in
Hilo. PHOTOS BY HOLLYN JOHNSON/TRIBUNE-HERALD
HILO — More than a thousand people, including
police officers and first responders from across Hawaii
and beyond, paid their final respects Saturday to fallen
Hawaii Police Department Officer Bronson Kaliloa.
Kaliloa was remembered by police Chaplain Lorin
Carmichael, who rode along with the Puna patrol
officer and 10-year police veteran, as “a true man
of God.”
“Without a shadow of doubt, no question in mind,
I know, absolutely, where Bronson is right now — in
the kingdom of God. He’s in heaven,” Carmichael told
those assembled, including Gov. David Ige, Hawaii
County Mayor Harry Kim, Honolulu Mayor Kirk
Caldwell and other dignitaries.
The service, at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in
Hilo, included Na Hoku Hanohano winners Kawika
Kahiapo and Mark Yamanaka singing heartfelt renditions
of, respectively, “Aloha Is” and “How Great Thou
Art” — the latter, mostly in Hawaiian. Ige presented
Kaliloa’s wife, Casey, a Hawaiian flag.
It was followed by a procession to Pahoa police
station and back, ending at Homelani Memorial Park.
There, Kaliloa was laid to rest, honored by a 21-gun
salute, a flower drop and a presentation to the fallen
officer’s widow of colors — the American flag — by
Police Chief Paul Ferreira.
Kaliloa was twice named East Hawaii Officer of the
Month, in October 2012 and April 2014, and Puna
Patrol Officer of the Year for 2014. His watch ended
July 18, several hours after being shot during a traffic
stop along Highway 11 in Mountain View.
“On that night, the unthinkable became reality,
something every that police officer and their families
live with every day,” Ferreira said during the memorial
service.
“I’m certain there won’t be a day that goes by that we
won’t remember how Bronson touched our lives, all of
us,” Ferreira continued. “But we need to let it happen
and know that we will get through this. Sure, pain
will be there, but we can conquer it by the fact that
Bronson will always be with us in our hearts.
“… I want to thank the Kaliloa ‘ohana for sharing
Bronson with us. And know that you are … now and
forever will be part of this police ‘ohana.”
SEE HERO PAGE 4A
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VOL. 50, NO. 217 32 PAGES
WEST HAWAII TODAY
PRIMARY ELECTION
COVERAGE
Today’s edition focuses on state
seats up for grabs in West Hawaii.
Monday’s edition will focus on the
County Council candidates. WHT
weighs in on all the races on page 5A.
Starting on page 6A
▼
FAREWELL TO A HERO
MORE THAN 1,000 ATTEND FUNERAL OF FALLEN OFFICER BRONSON KALILOA
BY JOHN BURNETT
HAWAII TRIBUNE-HERALD
Chief Paul Ferreira presents colors to Casey
Kaliloa, wife of fallen Officer Bronson Kaliloa,
during her husband’s burial service Saturday at
Homelani Memorial Park in Hilo.
Hawaii Police Department officers fire a 21-gun
salute in honor of fallen Officer Bronson Kaliloa
Saturday at Homelani Memorial Park in Hilo.