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City officials have reported a significant decrease in violent and property crimes in Waikiki, the island’s premier tourist destination, thanks to the Safe and Sound Waikiki program launched in September 2022.
On the first anniversary of the initiative, a joint news conference was held near Kuhio Beach on Kalakaua Avenue. Mayor Rick Blangiardi, along with members of the city’s law enforcement and business community, attended the event.
The focus of the program’s second year is to help individuals struggling with drug addiction and homelessness within the 1.3-square-mile neighborhood, which is home to 25,800 residents.
The implementation of the Safe and Sound Waikiki program has required close collaboration among the mayor’s office, the city Department of the Prosecuting Attorney, the Honolulu Police Department, the Waikiki Business Improvement District Association, and other community partners.
Prosecutor Steven Alm emphasized the importance of collaboration, stating, “Safe and Sound Waikiki is all about collaboration; that’s the only way it works. Nobody gets anything done by themselves. So that means our office is working closely with HPD, identifying hot spots and targeting the individuals causing the most problems.”
Police have seen a significant decrease in crime in Waikiki as a result of the program.
HPD Acting Lt. Blake Arita explained their approach: “Our mission at the Honolulu Police Department is to identify repeat criminal offenders, arrest them, and work with the Prosecutor’s Office to enforce geographic restrictions that keep them out of the area. If previously arrested individuals return to Waikiki, we work with the Prosecutor’s Office to obtain a warrant and arrest them again.”
According to HPD crime statistics from Sept. 1, 2022, to Aug. 31, there has been a decrease in various crimes compared to the previous year. These include a 4% drop in assault cases, a 31% decrease in burglary cases, a 28% decrease in criminal property damage cases, a 6% decrease in overall theft cases, and a 35% decrease in unauthorized entry into motor vehicles.
However, there has been an increase in disorderly conduct cases, which rose by about 37%. Arita attributed this increase to the proactive efforts of HPD officers in arresting disorderly individuals and responding to complaints of loud noise.
Arita further explained, “To accomplish all of this, we utilize our regular patrol officers, but we also dedicate a lot of our specialized units, such as our crime reduction unit, vice squad detail, foot patrol officers, and community policing team.”
The Waikiki parks, streets, and sidewalks have seen overall improvements, and HPD’s future goal is to address mental illness by partnering with the Institute for Human Services and the Waikiki Business Improvement District Association.
Bob Finley, chair of the Waikiki Neighborhood Board, expressed his satisfaction with the Safe and Sound Waikiki program, stating, “The reduction in crime has been wonderful.”
Various individuals invested in Waikiki’s future, such as Paul Kosasa, CEO of ABC Stores and board chairman of the Waikiki Business Improvement District Association, echo the sentiment that Waikiki is worth protecting.
The Waikiki Business Improvement District Association and the Institute for Human Services plan to enhance their efforts to improve the neighborhood, including strengthened outreach and intervention programs to help the homeless.
After the news conference, the mayor’s office addressed questions regarding the use of private security to supplement law enforcement in Waikiki. The “specialized security task force” hired by the city is not officially part of the Safe and Sound Waikiki initiative. They work alongside HPD and primarily consist of off-duty or former police officers.
According to Scott Humber, the mayor’s director of communications, the security team is responsible for deterrence and prevention, reaching out to HPD for support when necessary. The city’s contract with the security team expires on Nov. 30, and a decision on whether to continue the pilot project will be made by the mayor.
In the 2024 fiscal year budget, HPD’s District 6 has 171 authorized officers serving Waikiki. The total budget for HPD is $352.87 million.
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