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The Honolulu Police Department will significantly increase its enforcement in Chinatown in response to community concerns about the area.
HPD will now provide 24/7 coverage in Chinatown in four six-hour shifts that will consist of one supervisor and six officers. Officers will patrol in pairs and report enforcement statistics daily. The increased enforcement will focus on three areas from River to Bishop, North
Beretania and North King streets.
“I am appalled with the level of
illegal activity in Chinatown. The current situation is unacceptable and we must put a stop to it,” said Mayor Rick Blangiardi in a statement.
“Our team is working with HPD to protect this community from unsafe and illegal activities, lewd and indecent behaviors, and physical threats to residents, businesses and customers, and (to) stop the spread of COVID-19.”
The idea is that increased po-lice presence will deter criminal activity and create a safer environment for people in the area.
Blangiardi said he has heard from the Chinatown community about increases in unsanitary and illegal behavior such as public urination and defecation.
A May report by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser documented Chinatown business owners’ concerns about increased homelessness in the area and complaints about the situation getting worse.
There are also efforts underway to seek new ideas on how to revitalize Chinatown and Aala Park. The effort is being funded by major banks in the area, in partnership with the city to allow for Anthology Group to survey the area to document problems.
The increased police enforcement is due to begin this month and continue through the end of the year.
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