According to the Crime Prevention and Justice Assistance Division, crime rates in Hawaii have decreased dramatically in the last decade – the state as a whole experienced record-low rates of robbery, burglary, arson, and violent crime. While the state as a whole is extremely safe in terms of violent crime, quite a bit of property crime occurs here. Here are the most dangerous places in Hawaii that you may want to avoid once the sun goes down.

Using information from AreaVibes.com and NeighborhoodScout.com, as well as statistics from the National Drug Intelligence Center and SafeWise.com, we have compiled a list of the 11 most dangerous towns – and census-designated places – throughout the Hawaiian Islands, listed in no particular order. Don’t think that this is a comprehensive list, though; there are at least 13 other dangerous towns that have higher than average crime rates for Hawaii.

1. Wahiawa, Oahu
Wahiawa, HI 96786, USA
Aaron Dodd/Google
Known to some as the "armpit of Oahu," Wahiawa is ranked 10th in terms of crime in Hawaii, and drug use runs rampant. Total crimes are 20 percent higher here than the state as a whole. This is certainly one of the top places to avoid in Hawaii, especially after dark.

Take a drive around Wahiawa:

2. Kapaa, Kauai
Kapa?a, HI 96746, USA
Tony Cyphert/Flickr
One of the most dangerous places to live on the quaint Garden Isle is Kapaa, with a 1 in 28 chance of being the victim of a crime. That is 3% higher than the average rate of crime in Hawaii.
3. Kahului, Maui
Kahului, HI, USA
J. Maughn/Flickr
While crime has decreased drastically throughout the state, it hasn’t changed much in Kahului. Annual crime rates are 34.12 per 1,000 residents making this Maui town safer than only 11% of U.S. cities.
4. Makaha, Oahu
M?kaha, HI 96792, USA
Tony Webster/Flickr
This leeward Oahu census-designated place has the highest per capita crime rate in the state. In fact, a crime occurs here every 12 hours and 20 minutes on average as shown by data from Crimegrade.org, putting it at the top of the list of the most dangerous places in Hawaii.

Take a driving tour around Makaha:

5. Napili-Honokowai, Maui
Napili-Honokowai, HI, USA
E Farhey/Google
With a population of just over 6,700 - at least 10 percent living below the poverty line - property crime is all too common in this northern Maui census-designated place. An average of 19.38 property crimes occur per 1,000 residents. That may seem high but the average crime rates here are actually 6% lower than the Hawaii average.

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6. Honolulu, Oahu
Honolulu, HI, USA
Felix/Google
Data from the U.S. Department of Justice shows that Honolulu is the "primary transshipment point for drugs and drug proceeds to, through, and from the state," though that might just be due to the fact that Honolulu is home to the largest airport in Hawaii, an international postal facility, and two major commercial harbors.

In such a large city, there are undoubtedly good and bad areas; we suggest staying away from Kalihi and Chinatown late at night. It's also said to be the most haunted city in Hawaii.
7. Pahoa, Island of Hawaii
P?hoa, HI 96778, USA
Bob Moffett/Google
Pahoa also made our list of Hawaiian cities with the most sex offenders, with one sex offender per 23 residents. The crime rates here are also 46% higher than the state average. This is one of the most dangerous places in Hawaii.

Get a closer look at Pahoa:

8. Ewa Beach, Oahu
Ewa Beach, HI, USA
Robert Linsdell/Flickr
The National Drug Intelligence Center mentions the high use of methamphetamine in Ewa Beach as well, and according to AreaVibes, you have a 1 in 27 chance of being a crime victim.
9. Waipahu, Oahu
Waipahu, HI 96797, USA
Rogene Tagoca/Flickr
Not only is this city on Oahu seemingly rundown, but methamphetamine use runs rampant among the city’s residents. The overall crime rate is 36 per 1,000 residents, which is much higher than the national average.
10. Hanamaulu, Kauai
Hanamaulu, HI, USA
Brian Snelson/Fliickr
This census-designated place on Kauai’s eastern shore is home to approximately 5,150 people, but it has a rate of crime in Hawaii that's 31% higher than the national average. Even so, it was one of the fastest-growing towns in Hawaii as of 2017.
11. Kailua-Kona, Island of Hawaii
Kailua-Kona, HI, USA
John M/Flickr
While this picturesque Hawaiian town is home to some of the most famous resorts in Hawaii, it also has a crime rate of 23.02 per 1,000 residents.

Did any of these most dangerous places in Hawaii surprise you? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. Be sure to stay away from these 12 dangerous and potentially deadly spots in Hawaii’s nature as well.

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Dangerous Places In Hawaii

Melissa M. | June 28, 2021

What is it like living in Hawaii?

Living in Hawaii is awesome, but has crime and traffic issues.

Living in Hawaii is pretty awesome! There are literally hundreds of miles of coastline boasting some of the best beaches in the world, plenty of sunshine and good weather, endless hiking trails to explore the most scenic parts of the island, and ancient cultural sites. Although there are plenty of good things about living in the Aloha State, just like anywhere else, it has its downsides. For one, the cost of living is outrageous and unaffordable to some people. There is a bit of a traffic problem in the cities and many people get island fever a short time after moving here. 

What are the safest places to live in Hawaii?

The safest places to live in Hawaii include:

  • Kaneohe Station
  • Schofield Barracks
  • Hickam Housing
  • Wailea
  • East Honolulu

 

Since we touched upon the most dangerous places in Hawaii, let’s now focus on the safest places. Data from AreaVibes.com shows that Kaneohe Station, Schofield Barracks, Hickam Housing, Wailea, and East Honolulu are the top five safest places to live in Hawaii.

What stereotypes are there about Hawaii?

Stereotypes about Hawaii include:

  • Everyone surfs
  • Everyone eats Spam
  • Everyone wears Hawaiian shirts

 

It’s widely believed that most people who live in Hawaii surf, go to the beach, eat Spam, and wear Hawaiian shirts all the time, but those stereotypes are just not true for much of the population. While these stereotypes may be true for some of the residents, they cannot be applied to everyone on the islands.

 

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