Department of Land and Natural Resources

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 13, 2020

BEACH GATHERING RESULTS IN MAN’S ARREST ON HAWAI‘I ISLAND

(Kailua-Kona) – A citizen reported a large gathering of people and cars at Alula Beach (near Honokohau Small Boat Harbor) to the DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) early Wednesday afternoon. DOCARE officers responded to the beach and observed numerous people not engaging in permitted activity outlined in the State’s current emergency rules.

They contacted 24-year-old Dillon Kroll of Kailua-Kona and report the man immediately became agitated and combative, cussed at the officers, and was so angry other people on the beach became alarmed.

Officers allege Kroll refused to follow them to their vehicles to prepare a citation and continued debating with them while yelling and swearing.  They also report the man’s mother then had a verbal dispute with another woman who was objecting to Kroll’s behavior toward the DOCARE officers. Others reportedly grabbed their children and headed to their cars apparently due to the man’s unruly behavior.

Kroll was arrested for disorderly conduct, intoxication on State unencumbered land and violation of emergency rules and orders. He was booked at the Kona Police station and then released on his own recognizance.

DOCARE Chief Jason Redulla commented, “While the majority of our residents are following emergency rules, including not congregating on beaches, this arrest clearly demonstrates that there are a few who are not. They are not only possibly endangering the health of others, but their own. Health experts tell us, it takes everyone complying with social-distancing and other mandates in order to keep coronavirus at bay. Our officers will aggressively enforce the emergency rules and all other laws when they are advised of violations.”

DOCARE is also looking into reports of two men who kayaked to the Mokolua Islets State Wildlife Sanctuary off Kailua yesterday.  Witnesses report seeing the men hitting a resting monk seal on Moku Nui. A photo of the men and commentary were posted on Instagram (please see link below). The islands are currently closed under State emergency rules and hitting or harassing Hawaiian monk seals is a violation of both federal and state rules and can result in large fines and significant jail time.

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call DOCARE at 643-DLNR. In addition to this 24-hour hotline resource violations can also be reported in real-time via the free DLNRTip app.

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Media Contact:

Dan Dennison
Senior Communications Manager
(808) 587-0396
[email protected]