Police Investigating North Kona Traffic Crash That Killed Two

Hawai‘i Island police are investigating a two-vehicle traffic collision that killed a husband and wife from Waimea early Tuesday morning, February 18, 2025, on Queen Ka‘ahumanu Highway, in North Kona.  

Upon responding to a reported collision at 5:41 a.m. police determined that a silver 2021 Kia Forte sedan traveling southbound (Kona bound) was attempting to overtake multiple vehicles, including a tractor-trailer carrying a full tank of fuel, when it collided head-on with a northbound brown 2004 Nissan Frontier pickup truck near the 79.5-mile marker.

The 51-year-old male driver of the Kia sedan, later identified as Reginald Kaleilehua Tolentino Jr., and his 55-year-old wife and passenger, Colette Marie Kaleialoha Tolentino, were transported to Kona Community Hospital, where they were pronounced deceased at 10:48 a.m.

The 55-year-old male driver of the Nissan pickup sustained life-threatening injuries in the collision and was transported to North Hawai‘i Community Hospital for initial treatment. He was subsequently transported to Queen’s Medical Center on O‘ahu for further care.

The Area II Traffic Enforcement Unit has initiated a major traffic collision investigation and is asking anyone who may have witnessed this collision to please contact Officer Adam Roberg at (808) 326-4646, ext. 229, or email at adam.roberg@hawaiicounty.gov. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.

This is the 6^th & 7^th traffic fatality this year compared to 4 at this time last year.