[ talkstory Category ]
May 16, 2003

Safe Places at Night

What are your opinions about outdoor safety at night here in Hawaii? My mom has a quivery voice over the phone as she expresses her worry over my plans to check out the full moon at Makapuu tonight (in a group, of course). I'm a little irritated by the way she lives her life in fear, avoiding rich life experiences "to be safe."

Perhaps there are two issues this post brings up. One is the question of where in Hawaii is it considered reasonably safe to hang out at night? And the other question relates to the broader issue of how to balance fear and truly living.

Posted by Ruth at May 16, 2003 05:39 PM

Comments

 
Posted by hayneyz on May 16, 2003 8:07 PM:

For the first 27 years of my life I lived in Hawai'i and never found anywhere I couldn't hang out at night. I even spent the night at Ala Moana beach once, no hassles, nothing. Heck, I hung out in all the places you're not supposed to hang out and still no problem.

I've never been afraid to be anywhere at night back home, except maybe..'em... cemetaries and other ghostly places, but other than that nowhere. Then again, I'm not a fearful person, at least not of other people.

Or maybe I just look scary? :)

 
Posted by Sin on May 16, 2003 8:08 PM:

Okay Makapuu is part of the police department's district 4, beat # 450. According to police that area had 1 rape, 4 robberies and 6 assaults in 2000 and no rapes, no robberies and 4 assaults in 2001. Last year's numbers aren't available yet. Also it should be noted that beat #450 includes more than just Makapuu so we don't know how many of these crimes actually took place there.

Now, having said that, the best way not be become a victim of crime is to lessen the factors that make you vulrunable to criminals. Being in a group helps although I think everyone should be mindful of their cars. There were 29 auto thefts in beat #450 in 2000 and 13 auto thefts in 2001.
Other than that, I think checking out the full moon at Makapuu is a great idea.

 
Posted by aureservoir on May 16, 2003 11:30 PM:

You should bring your mom to view the moon; I would go without hesitation (esp. since you'll be with a group). I walk around at night by myself...if more people would do this, the streets would be safer, IMHO.

 
Posted by ruth on May 19, 2003 1:45 PM:

Hi all,

Thanks for your comments, the personal tales, statistics and advice.

I did end up taking a fabulous moonwalk and enjoyed most of it. Some of my mom's warning hung over me like a curse in the beginning part of the hike, but that immediately went away after the adrenaline kicked in. Delightfully, we came across a couple of groups of hikers much like our group - people with khaki shorts, sneakers, flash lights and backpacks, saying "hello" as we passed each other. I always exclaim that "hikers are cool."

Sin - how did you get those stats? I went over to the HPD Web site and found a stat table, but did not know how the beats were broken down. Very helpful stats indeed.

I think if we keep certain basic safety principles in mind, we should enjoy what the night has to offer.

Thanks,
Ruth

 
Posted by James on May 19, 2003 2:40 PM:

Speaking of safe places at night, I'm going to be moving out of Waikiki this next month and looking for my own place. Needless to say I'm looking for something that is inexpensive but not a slum.

Everyone tells me that Kalihi while it is inexpensive, is not the safest place for someone of my complexion to live. Part of me understands that but another part of me wonders, would I get robbed or beaten just for being a Haole?

I'm also looking at parts of Makiki and I've seen a few places in Chinatown which are also in my price range. Again I'm told that Chinatown and Makiki also have parts that are not safe. Although I've heard that Chinatown is a lot safer now than it used to be.

I lived on Kaheka for two months and I've been on Kuhio for almost four months, I've seen a lot of strange stuff but I've never been afraid or felt unsafe about the area's.

Hayneyz, maybe you do look scarry.. Even I won't go to Ala Moana beach after dark.

 
Posted by Sin on May 19, 2003 2:51 PM:

Hey Ruth, well you gotta go down to the police station itself at 801 Beretania St. to pick up the Honolulu Police Department Annual Report. It's free I believe. It always comes out in June for the year before so 2002 stats should be out next month. You need to call ahead of time to see if any copies are left, I think you need to call the community policing section or something like that. It's pretty handy to have. Anyway, I've got 2000 and 2001 stats if anyone wants me to look up something.

By the way James, I used to live on Kanunu St. which intersects with Kaheka. Daiei was my secont home for two years. Location was great, why are you moving?

 
Posted by Ryan on May 19, 2003 6:02 PM:

James, I'd recommend a fresh thread for "Where to Live," and I know you'll get lots of great advice.

I live in Makiki with my family now (and have few complaints), and have lived in the mustier corners of Waikiki in my college days (which, no doubt, are somewhat romanticized today). Each neighborhood has its quirks, but I'd say, seeing how well you've adjusted to local life so far, you would probably do fine almost anywhere.

 
Posted by aureservoir on May 20, 2003 6:55 AM:

I vote for Makiki/Moiliili area; I've lived in Waikiki and Kapahulu for a long time (I thought my stay in Waikiki would be short, but I've come to love the location!).

Kaimuki and Wilhelmina Rise are also good locations...if you're lucky, you might find a renter's unit on Sierra Drive or Wilhelmina Rise.

 
Posted by Derek on May 20, 2003 1:09 PM:

oh my god, Ruth! I know you! :-) Anyways, I used to go up to Makapu'u lighthouse to look at the full moon all the time! It's really cool! We'd go with a big group of folks from Hope Chapel and play guitar and sing and stuff up there!

 
Posted by Sin on May 20, 2003 3:24 PM:

Okay, new info about getting the annual reports. When you get to the entrance of the police station on beretania you tell the officer stationed at the security post that you're there to go to the Informational Resources Section (aka the I.R.S...yeah, I know, they need to change that name.) and tell them you want to pick up an HPD Annual Report. No need to call ahead of time or so I'm told. The officer will take your name down and give you a id pass and then you can pick it up.

 
Posted by ruth on May 20, 2003 5:25 PM:

Derek - Of course, Derek! Hope all is going well. What a funny connection.

Sin - seems like quite a process to get that annual report. I wonder if they make it available in electronic format. Probably not. This kind of information would've been good when I was looking for a place to live a couple years back. Knowing the crime rate down the street is very important.

To the notes about places to live, Wilhemina Rise and St. Louis Dr. are awesome. Manoa Valley is great, too. There often are cottage-type apartments listed under "Houses, Partly Furnished." Nice neighborhoods. Warning - Don't rent from a guy named Bob Myers. He was a former landlord who I sued over a security deposit (and won!) and who I also had cited for a building code violation after I vacated the unit. He has units in the Wilhemina area. Trust your gut instinct on whether your prospective landlord is straight up. If you ignore your instinct, it'll haunt you. Trust me.

 
Posted by lemurs on May 20, 2003 8:41 PM:

In regards to living in Kalihi:

I grew up in Kalihi, lived there for over 20 years, and although I'm hapa, I and the rest of my family look pretty much white. I've always felt perfectly safe regardless of looks there, and had occasion to walk home over a mile after dark a few times (stupid bus that stops running at 10:30 p.m.!)

The thing is that the farther you go up the valley, the safer it is.

Plus, usually when you rent like an apartment attached to a house up there, the families will semi-adopt you.

My 2 cents.


And to be on topic, I have always felt a lot more comfortable after dark anywhere on Oahu than here in Seattle, where I get the heebie-jeebies walking two blocks home from the bus stop.

 
Posted by Sin on May 20, 2003 11:26 PM:

Ruth, it's not really that bad. Just go to the police station, tell the guard at the front what you're there to pick up then pick it up. It's really handy. The problem is I dont think they're going to do all the break-downs of which crimes happened in which beat for the website. Thats too much work I'm guessing.

As for favorite places to live...I used to live along Monsarrat and still miss it. Great little stores, good location, close to the park, diamond head surf, etc., etc. Loved it...

 
Posted by aureservoir on May 21, 2003 5:00 AM:

James, Mayor Harris lives in Kalihi!

Yes, I second that comment about walking around Seattle after dark...I'd never do that alone.

 
Posted by Sin on May 21, 2003 6:29 PM:

Yup, Harris lives way back in Kalihi Valley...other than that though it's a great, friendly neighborhood.

 
Posted by ptosis on May 21, 2003 10:32 PM:

Go here to get 2001 stats online
* Reported Offenses by District 2001
* District 1 Downtown Honolulu
* District 2 North Shore, Wahiawa
* District 3 West Oahu, Aiea, Pearl City, Waipahu
* District 4 Windward Oahu, Kaneohe, Kailua, Kahuku
* District 5 Kalihi
* District 6 Waikiki
* District 7 East Honolulu, Manoa, Hawaii Kai, Makapuu
* District 8 Leeward Oahu, Waianae, Nanakuli, Makakilo, Kapolei

 
Posted by Sin on May 22, 2003 2:16 PM:

Whoa, handy link there for the police stats. Thanks!

Ruth, how come you couldn't find this? : )

 
Posted by ruth on May 22, 2003 7:44 PM:

Well, gee. Things just should not be that easy!

Thanks! Great information here.

 
Posted by The Don on May 24, 2003 2:33 PM:

I would certainly recommend the outskirts of Chinatown for a nice low-cost alternative. I roost in a tower behind the Safeway off of Bishop and I must say, the price range is nice and the un-safety isn't all that bad. I've got no problems wandering down the street to the store or something..night or day. But then again...I've got lots of tattoos..maybe I'm scary looking myself.

Post a Comment

Name:


Email Address:


URL:


Comments:


Remember info?



« We Need More Awards Shows | Where to Celebrate? »
[ HawaiiAnswers.com - You ask, Hawaii answers. ] [ HawaiiAnswers.com - Hawaii's first online news source. ] [ HawaiiAnswers.com - Let's talk story. ]
Main Page  ::  © 2002-2004 HawaiiStories  ::  E-Mail