Rash of crimes spurs Waikiki safety conference

A public safety conference in Waikiki next week will work on improving the safety of visitors and residents in tourism districts.

Concerns heated up last year as news of several high-profile crimes in Waikiki began circulating. After two violent attacks on military members, one that resulted in death, the Armed Forces Disciplinary Control Board issued a December warning informing service members of violent crime and other illegal activity in Waikiki.

The Visitor Public Safety Conference will be held from 8 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Tuesday at the Sheraton Waikiki. The event is chaired by Mufi Hannemann, Hawaii Lodging &Tourism president and CEO, and Honolulu City Council member Trevor Ozawa of the Honolulu City Council.

The event is modeled after a similar local crime conference held in 1997, when a crime spike against visitors had grown so bad that the Japanese Consulate was considering issuing a travel advisory about Hawaii.

Crime was still a hot topic at the Waikiki Neighborhood Board’s February meeting, where community members sought updates from police on crimes against visitors and crimes involving youth perpetrators and gangs.

HPD Sgt. Robert Oakes told the Waikiki board that the district’s busy patrol officers are “hopping from one case to the next.”

Oakes said he didn’t have intelligence on possible Waikiki gang activity, but said “I do know that we have a problem with kids coming into Waikiki from various ethnic backgrounds and they squabble and fight.”

Oakes reported that there were 4,264 calls for service in January in Waikiki, an increase of nearly 4 percent over December. The number of robberies dropped just over 27 percent to eight and sex crimes stayed flat at one. However, burglaries rose 13 percent to 17, thefts increased 4 percent to 194 and assaults grew 3 percent to 33.

“It won’t take much to damage Hawaii’s reputation as one of the safest destinations for visitors. That’s why we need to be proactive in identifying problems and developing solutions involving crimes against visitors, members of the military, and residents alike,” Hannemann said in a statement.

The conference aims to bring together law enforcement and public safety agencies, the military, social service groups, and business groups to explore public safety challenges and recommend solutions. Honolulu Police Department Chief Susan Ballard and Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Keith Kaneshiro will open the event, which features experts on law enforcement, drug problems, visitor crime, military concerns, mental illness, and youth and juvenile reform.

Register for the Visitor Public Safety Conference at 808ne.ws/safetyconference. The $75 cost includes breakfast and lunch. Selfparking costs $10 and valet parking costs $15.