Late-night spots blamed for Ala Moana crime surge

A number of recent stabbings in the Ala Moana area have some residents worried it’s only going to get worse.

"Rule-breaking leads to rule-breaking; law-breaking leads to law-breaking," said Larry Hurst, chairman of the Ala Moana/Kakaako Neighborhood Watch, after a Sunday brawl and stabbing on Sheridan Street that sent a 22-year-old man to the hospital in serious condition. "When’s it going to end?"

It was the third stabbing in the area in a month.

Some residents say establishments that stay open late at night and into the early morning are the main problem.

"You’ve got all these places open late at night," said Dexter Sensui, leader of the Sheridan Citizens Patrol. "They create a lot of bad elements hanging around. It is something that’s been getting worse lately. I mean, it seems like every weekend now we have stuff happening."

Hurst said he believes more violent crimes are happening because there are too many bars, clubs and other liquor establishments in the area.

"I think, really, first it’s with the bars," he said. "I’ve never said, ‘Do away with the bars completely.’ One is OK, but three right next to each other, no. If they’re spaced apart, fine, then you’d know which is which, which bar patrons are coming from, and it limits how many (bars) there are in the area."

A Honolulu Liquor Commission rule prohibits certain classes of liquor establishments —cabarets, hostess clubs and those that have exotic dancers — from obtaining a license if another of those three kinds of establishments is licensed and stands within 500 feet.

However, Liquor Commission Acting Administrator Anna Hirai said the rule does not apply to license renewals and transfers, and establishments can apply for a waiver from the commission.

Hurst, who has been on the neighborhood board for 16 years, said that defeats the intent of the rule.

"We had a rule change to keep some kinds of bars from being side by side, but the Liquor Commission won’t follow its own rule," he said. "So it’s all been perpetuated. We’ve had status quo for over a decade, as I can tell. In fact, it’s worse because it’s a lot more violent."

Sensui and Hurst question whether the Liquor Commission is doing enough to monitor establishments under its jurisdiction.

"The ultimate thing is the public is getting hurt," said Sensui, who also works the night shift at the Sheridan Street Meadow Gold. "You’d think the Liquor Commission would be more aggressive for the benefit of the public."

Sensui said he and the rest of the Sheridan Citizens Patrol hit the streets a couple of times a week to observe and discuss what’s going on in the area.

Hurst added, "There would have to be strict enforcement of existing rules and laws — beginning with the Liquor Commission because they have their own force — if anything’s going to get done."

It’s not just the bars and clubs area residents and workers are worried about. Some said since the Keeaumoku McDonald’s became a 24-hour dine-in restaurant about a year ago, they’ve noticed more suspicious activity in the area.

A McDonald’s corporate spokes­woman could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Residents and workers say they’d also like to see more police patrolling the area.

"Cops should patrol it, get eye contact out here," Mark Naka­mura, 59, said after Sunday’s stabbing. "I think that would help."

Nakamura has lived in the area for seven years and works at the Kee­au­moku Walmart at night.

Elisa Edberg has been living in the Ala Moana area since September and said knowing there’s been a spate of violent crimes in the area "makes me feel nervous."

She said, "When I moved in, my husband already had a baseball bat ready, just in case. I asked why, and he said, ‘Well, it’s just not the best neighborhood in the world.’"

Despite her uneasiness, Edberg said the frequent wail of sirens is somewhat comforting because it means police are responding to calls quickly.

Hurst said he believes the Hono­lulu Police Department has been doing a good job with what it has to work with.

"They’re stretched thin," he said. "There’s just too much activity for the resources we have here."

In an email to the Star-Advertiser, HPD spokes­woman Michelle Yu said, "The department is looking into the recent incidents to determine whether additional resources are needed in the area at certain times. We are also working with the Liquor Commission to identify and address community concerns."