Safe & Sound Waikīkī
Safe and Sound
The launch of the award winning Safe and Sound program in September 2022 marked a significant advancement in the collaboration between community groups and law enforcement in the Waikīkī district to combat habitual crime offenders. This initiative, led by the concerted efforts of the Waikīkī Business Improvement District, the Mayor’s Office, Honolulu Police Department, the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, and various community partners, has showcased the remarkable outcomes of unified community action.
President & CEO of ABC Stores, and Board Chair of the Waikīkī Business Improvement District Paul Kosasa speaking at the Safe & Sound Waikīkī Press Conference
Mission
Through a grant from the Kosasa Foundation and the City and County of Honolulu, the Waikīkī Business Improvement District is able to have a full time Safe & Sound Executive Coordinator, Katie Kaahanui, to manage the operation.
Katie Kaahanui plays the integral role of tracking data, coming up with innovative solutions and best practices, and being the bridge between all stakeholders in the operation. The operation consists of:
Honolulu Police Department enhancing patrols and enforcement in high traffic areas, as well as being liaisons in the community through their community policing teams
The Prosecuting Attorney’s office advocates for tougher sentences and geographic restrictions for habitual crime offenders. A geographic restriction is a mandate that a person cannot go to the Waikīkī district for a certain period of time.
The Mayor’s office and the departments within the City and County of Honolulu that promote “Crime reduction through environmental design” which the Department of Parks and Recreation and the Department of Facilities and Maintenance has played a critical role in.
A Unanimous Success:
Metrics that Speak Volumes
At the core of Safe and Sound Waikīkī’s achievements are hard, irrefutable data. The Honolulu Police Department reports compelling evidence of the program’s efficacy. In the span of the first two years of the program, comparing the 24-month date range before Safe & Sound (September 2020 – September 2022) and the 24-month data range since Safe & Sound (September 2022 – September 2024) the Waikīkī district experienced a staggering 48% reduction in drug & alcohol related crimes, a 19% reduction in robberies, a 30% reduction in burglaries, and a 22% reduction in criminal property damage.
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Reduction in drug & alcohol related crimes
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Reduction in robberies
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Reduction in burglaries
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Reduction in criminal property damage
One of the measures contributing to these reductions has been the imposition of geographic restrictions on habitual crime offenders.
Since the start of the Safe and Sound program, over 200 individuals have been restricted from Waikīkī due to their criminal activities
Recognition
The Safe & Sound Waikīkī initiative has received numerous awards, including the “Top Cop” Award for Most Outstanding Organization
Pioneering Second Chances: Breaking the Cycle of Crime
Safe and Sound has also embraced innovation through its “second chance” employment initiative for recently released inmates from the Laumauka Work Furlough Center. The program has employed 14 individuals as “Aloha Ambassadors,” offering them a pathway back into society, while simultaneously enriching our community with their unique perspectives and burgeoning potential.
A Global Endorsement: The Voice of Our Visitors
Safe and Sound Waikīkī’s effectiveness hasn’t gone unnoticed by the millions who visit Hawaii each year. According to a survey by the Hawaiʻi Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, an overwhelming 95% of visitors from major market areas rate Hawaiʻi as “excellent” or “above average” in terms of safety and security. This resounding endorsement is not just a statistic; it’s a testament to the safer and more welcoming environment Safe and Sound has nurtured.
According to a survey by the Hawaiʻi Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, an overwhelming 95% of visitors from major market areas rate Hawaiʻi as “excellent” or “above average” in terms of safety and security.
Interested in learning more or participating?
Reach out to our Executive Coordinator of Safe & Sound – Katie Kaahanui