Hawaii County police officer runs across Italy with Olympic Torch
HILO (HawaiiNewsNow) - A Hawaii County police officer has finished jogging across Italy.
Officer Michael Abran was one of about 80 law enforcement torch runners for the Special Olympics Winter Games earlier this month.
The 15-year veteran was the only officer from Hawaii.
He was chosen for his more than a decade of volunteering and coaching bocce ball and track and field athletes.
The department said he first got involved with the Special Olympics while serving in the Kona Community Policing Section. He also participated in the Badges and Buckets event, known previously as Cop on Top, were off-duty police officers and Special Olympic athletes would raise awareness and funding for Special Olympics Hawaii events.
Abran said it was a challenge running in 20 degree weather and snow.
“The air was seemed a little thinner, kind of like when you’re on top of Mauna Kea, your fingertips to get a little numb,” Abran said. “The most memorable part of it is visiting the different cities and getting to carry that torch with an athlete to run into those cities and to be in the events.”
Abran will be running in a torch run in Kona on April 26, and again on May 3 in Hilo before the Special Olympics Track meet.
His cousin Sean is a Special Olympics weightlifter from Kamuela.
Copyright 2025 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
