Hawaiʻi leaders act to increase public safety along Waiʻanae Coast

News Release from Office of the Mayor, August 16, 2024

HONOLULU — Governor Josh Green, M.D., Mayor Rick Blangiardi, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda, state Representatives Cedric Gates and Darius Kila, state Senator Cross Crabbe and Honolulu City Councilmember Andria Tupola today released statements about a unified effort in response to increased lethal gun violence on the Leeward Coast.

Multiple shootings in recent days involving mostly illegally owned firearms have claimed lives and severely injured our neighbors in the Wai‘anae community. Hawai‘i’s leaders at all levels are calling for an end to the lethal violence and bringing to bear an increased presence for vigilance and enforcement to keep the public safe.

“We are joining together to increase safety for our Wai‘anae and broader Leeward Coast community in response to the unacceptable violent crimes. Residents are already seeing a more visible presence of multiple law enforcement agencies and rest assured, these efforts will continue,” said Governor Green.

“In partnership with the Mayor, Chief of Police and other local officials, we met late Thursday night and rapidly developed a plan to bring significantly more law enforcement support to Wai‘anae, including added support from the state Department of Law Enforcement, Department of Land and Natural Resources DOCARE officers and other law enforcement capacity,” said Governor Green. “This gun violence must stop, and anyone threatening or harming others will face immediate arrest and prosecution.”

“As Mayor, I have always prioritized public health and safety, and the recent gun violence in the Waiʻanae community is patently unacceptable. We cannot stand idly by while communities are held hostage by the minority of criminals who choose to ignore our laws and wreak havoc on our families,” said Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi. “We are grateful for the efforts of community leaders, as well as the Honolulu Police Department and our state law enforcement partners, and together we will marshall all of the public safety resources of the City and County of Honolulu to restore peace and public safety to our Waiʻanae Coast.”

“The recent rise in gun violence in the Waiʻanae community requires a whole-of- government response, from the state and local level to our federal government. As the representative in Congress for the Waiʻanae community, I have been in close contact with the White House and federal agencies to provide the technical and financial assistance needed to support our state and county response teams as they deal with persistent gun violence, including the proliferation of ghost guns. The White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives will undoubtedly play important roles in helping us to identify and address root causes of gun violence and fund initiatives to combat gang activity and reduce violent crime in our communities,” said Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02).

“Last year, the city did an enhanced enforcement weekend after a string of shootings in the community, but we clearly need ongoing enhanced police support,” said Councilmember Tupola (Council District I; portions of ʻEwa Beach, Kapolei, Ho‘opili, Makakilo, Kalaeloa, Honokai Hale, Ko ‘Olina, Nānākuli, Mā‘ili, Wai‘anae, Mākaha, Kea‘au, and Mākua).

Representative Gates (District 45, Wai‘anae, Mākaha) continued, “the community is concerned that there are so many youth involved in these shootings and we need assistance from the HPD Crime Reduction Unit to investigate the leads and possible involvement of gang-related activity.” 

“We are working with every level of government — federal, state and city, as unified coordination is critically needed as we address the safety and lives of our community members,” said Representative Kila (District 44 Honokai Hale, Nānākuli, Mā‘ili).

“The prevalence of gun violence in our community is unacceptable and we need all parties, government, law enforcement and our neighbors, to work collaboratively to address underlying causes and hold perpetrators accountable. Making our streets safer is a kākou thing,” said Senator Cross Crabbe, (District 22 Ko ‘Olina, Nānākuli, Mā‘ili, Wai‘anae, Mākaha, Mākua).

“The Department of Law Enforcement is committed to working with the Honolulu Police Department, DOCARE and its federal partners to reduce gun violence,” said Department of Law Enforcement Director Jordan Lowe. “We will work to provide more uniform presence and investigative resources. We will commit Task Force Officers to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives as well as the FBI, in an effort to hold those individuals committing these acts of violence accountable. DLE will work with the community with educational initiatives, provide opportunities for the community to voluntarily and safely turn in their unwanted firearms. DLE’s next Gun Buy Back event will take place at the Aloha Stadium Parking Lot on August 24. DLE will also be providing free gun locks for individuals who want to safely store their firearms.”

“Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement officers will be working with our law enforcement partners to increase visibility and safety in Wai‘anae,” said DOCARE Chief Jason Redulla. “Officers will be providing an enhanced presence during overnight hours at Wai‘anae Small Boat Harbor through the course of the Statehood Day weekend to ensure the harbor is used for legitimate and lawful use.”

Representatives Gates and Kila and Councilmember Tupola will host a youth-focused crime prevention town hall on August 21 at Wai‘anae High School starting at 6 p.m. All community members are invited to attend. All Wai‘anae sports teams are also invited to attend together after practice. Dinner will be served from 5-6 p.m. and the meeting will start promptly at 6 p.m.