Drunken-driving arrests are up 9 percent on the Big Island compared with the same time last year, police announced Monday.

The DUI roadblocks and patrols continue on the Big Island, where 28 motorists were arrested for DUI last week. Of those arrested, eight were involved in accidents and two were under the age of 21.

So far this year, there have been 1,234 DUI arrests on the Big Island compared with 1,132 during the same period last year.

Police also announced that major accidents are down nearly 15 percent on the Big Island compared to last year. So far this year there have been 1,904 major accidents compared with 2,230 during the same period last year.