The pace of DUI arrests on O'ahu this year has not slowed from last year's six-year high — a worrisome sign to police and state officials on the eve of Memorial Day weekend, the traditional start of the summer party season.

Through March, Honolulu police have made 820 DUI arrests, which puts the arrests on pace with last year's 3,282 total. According to the state Department of Transportation, 68 of the 140 traffic fatalities in the state last year were alcohol-related and 43 percent of the 674 traffic fatalities in Hawai'i since 2001 have involved alcohol.

Police are warning drivers that the streets will be saturated with officers looking to arrest impaired drivers this weekend.

"Having a good time does not mean getting high, whether it be through drugs or alcohol," said Maj. Susan Dowsett, head of HPD's traffic division.

Police have said the high arrest numbers are resulting from aggressive enforcement, including year-round DUI checkpoints, and more traffic patrols. Additional initiatives include pairing experienced patrol officers with new officers to help them spot drunken drivers, and using "saturation patrols," in which a small group of patrol officers spend more than half of their entire shift looking for impaired drivers.

Checkpoints will be set up in all eight patrol districts this weekend and officials said the roadblocks will last through the year.

In addition to law enforcement efforts, MADD — Mothers Against Drunk Driving — is teaming with the Department of Transportation and police to improve education and increase public awareness through educational campaigns, increased sobriety checkpoints and commonsense advice.

"For the kids, we hope their celebrations will be fun and alcohol-free so all their fun and great memories will remain intact and not end in tragedy," said Connie Abram, executive director of the local MADD chapter. "For the over-21 crowd, the summer is upon us and if alcohol is going to be part of your plan, please plan ahead and get a designated driver."

MADD is sponsoring several alcohol-free dances at the 50th State Fair this summer and will be rolling out radio spots denouncing the decision to drink and drive. The state Department of Transportation's "52/12" campaign provides money for county police to set up at least one checkpoint every week of the year. Traditionally in Hawai'i, roadblocks have been clustered around holiday weekends.

The state has directed nearly $400,000 to the four county police departments as part of the "52/12" campaign. Honolulu police received $110,950 to help supplement the cost of setting up DUI checkpoints on O'ahu every week of the year.

Also, the DOT has secured commitments from more than 60 nightclubs and bars across the state that will offer free soda all night to designated drivers.

"For the drunk drivers, the enforcement was getting a little too predictable so what we wanted to do is mix it up a little," said Scott Ishikawa, DOT spokesman. "Everybody was young once and we all made mistakes but a lot of us lived to learn from those mistakes. Unfortunately in some instances you don't get that second chance."

First-time DUI offenders face a fine of $150 to $1,000, a mandatory 14 hours of substance-abuse counseling, 72 hours of community service and a 90-day license suspension — plus a night in jail, the city prosecutor's office said.

Reach Peter Boylan at pboylan@honoluluadvertiser.com.