Car Break-Ins In Hawaii
Nov 18th, 2004, 03:48 PM
#21
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 274
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have a question related to this situation. I'm staying in Oahu (not sure where yet) the night before I have to fly out the next day. I won't be leaving until 10:30 PM so, I have a full day to run around in my rental car before going to the airport. I was planning on packing all my stuff in the car to spend the day but, now I'm not sure that's a good idea. Are the hotels good about storing your stuff until around 8:30 PM? Thanks
Nov 18th, 2004, 06:35 PM
#22
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,120
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yes, most hotels have a storage room. Some have a small fee, such as a coat valet.
NOTE: jjjchip, you've got to put down the Maui Wowie and read your own false logic.
Having beads on the mirror doesn't mean yours is a local car, and being local doesn't mean you're insulated from crime, anyway. Tell us what you hang on your mirror at home to keep those thieves away...?
All rental cars have similar characteristics, though, don't they really? If I see a well-maintained car, without any custom modifications or personalized messages, that is less than 5 years old --- especially if it has the little green/white "e" sticker from Enterprise, then I know it's a rental.
How many times have I walked to a silver Grand Cherokee in the hotel parking lot, only to discover that my key doesn't open the door, OR that the battery in the remote keyless entry isn't dead, I'm simply looking at the wrong duplicate car.
(if this reads like a duplicate post, it's because I tried about 3 hours ago to post this w/no luck on this wacky site)
NOTE: jjjchip, you've got to put down the Maui Wowie and read your own false logic.
Having beads on the mirror doesn't mean yours is a local car, and being local doesn't mean you're insulated from crime, anyway. Tell us what you hang on your mirror at home to keep those thieves away...?
All rental cars have similar characteristics, though, don't they really? If I see a well-maintained car, without any custom modifications or personalized messages, that is less than 5 years old --- especially if it has the little green/white "e" sticker from Enterprise, then I know it's a rental.
How many times have I walked to a silver Grand Cherokee in the hotel parking lot, only to discover that my key doesn't open the door, OR that the battery in the remote keyless entry isn't dead, I'm simply looking at the wrong duplicate car.
(if this reads like a duplicate post, it's because I tried about 3 hours ago to post this w/no luck on this wacky site)
Nov 18th, 2004, 07:30 PM
#23
Guest
Posts: n/a
What a funny thread to end my bleeding heart work day. Yes, please everyone, understand that the license plate tells everyone in Hawaii, you're a tourist. It may be an inconvenience, but plan ahead, do not travel with all of your personal belongings and then take a hike. Only leave in your rental, what you can live without...extra clothes, cooler, a days worth of clothes, or clothes for dinner......
Is the problem MAJOR???? I doubt it. Just use common sense. If you need it, don't leave it in your rental. Nuff said, time to book some more hawaii!!!!!!!!
Is the problem MAJOR???? I doubt it. Just use common sense. If you need it, don't leave it in your rental. Nuff said, time to book some more hawaii!!!!!!!!
Nov 19th, 2004, 05:37 AM
#25
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 110
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
TripleSec -- and here I thought I was the only one who gets SO irritated at people at the grocery store who wait for the total before they finally start writing our their check or digging around for their debit card!! What is the matte with these people??? lol
gzseattle -- I replied to your earlier thread re: finding a calm beach on Oahu, and suggested the Ko'Olina lagoons, which are always calm and beautiful.
noblesm - give me a break! I hope you develop a thicker skin or else you might start to find yourself staying home more and more!
gzseattle -- I replied to your earlier thread re: finding a calm beach on Oahu, and suggested the Ko'Olina lagoons, which are always calm and beautiful.
noblesm - give me a break! I hope you develop a thicker skin or else you might start to find yourself staying home more and more!
Nov 19th, 2004, 06:59 AM
#26
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hey, I didn't know this message board was so mean-spirted. To the one who replied: "Spatz, don't travel much do you?" I've been to Europe and other destinations and have travelled as much as others on this site.
This break-in occurred OUTSIDE of Honolulu in a area on the east coast, I believe the name is something like
Menialo (sp).It was east of the Spouting Horn area if anyone is familiar with that area. It was in a rural area and the McDonalds was next to an equestrian horse farm which gave riding lessons. We did NOT find Honolulu dirty or ridden with hookers.
We enjoyed walking around after dark (yes, after dark!) with the tiki torches glowing along the beach.
This break-in occurred OUTSIDE of Honolulu in a area on the east coast, I believe the name is something like
Menialo (sp).It was east of the Spouting Horn area if anyone is familiar with that area. It was in a rural area and the McDonalds was next to an equestrian horse farm which gave riding lessons. We did NOT find Honolulu dirty or ridden with hookers.
We enjoyed walking around after dark (yes, after dark!) with the tiki torches glowing along the beach.
Nov 19th, 2004, 08:17 AM
#27
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 110
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Spatz -- I think people know that it was not you who alleged that there were prostitutes and a "huge drug problem". That was the person who posted the first reply to your post. I appreciate your effort to alert travelers to the possibility of car break-ins. I think it's when others wrote silly responses sounding like Chicken Little that got people riled up, not wanting other travelers to get the wrong impression from their posts (not yours).
Nov 19th, 2004, 09:43 AM
#28
I think the area where this happened was Waimanalo?? Out in the country, not in Honolulu or Waikiki!
There are drugs, crime and prostitution in every state, and it is always awful to be a victim of crime.
That said, I think most people coming to Hawaii will be pleasantly surprised at our low crime rate.
One other thing...the license plates in Hawaii are NOT different on rental cars. Exact same series of numbers. Main difference is that rental cars tend to be newer and they tend to all be the same models...we are not joking about GEo Metros and Satellite Sebrings!
You can make yourselves look a bit less tourist by not leaving maps, tourist mags, and ABC store bags on your seats. Maybe take inside-out tee shirts and pull them over the front seats as seat covers, and leave a school book on the seats?
I don't know if anything really helps...my husband's beater Volvo surfmobile has been broken into the same number of times as his shiny Lexus.
Sometimes you're just in the wrong place.
There are drugs, crime and prostitution in every state, and it is always awful to be a victim of crime.
That said, I think most people coming to Hawaii will be pleasantly surprised at our low crime rate.
One other thing...the license plates in Hawaii are NOT different on rental cars. Exact same series of numbers. Main difference is that rental cars tend to be newer and they tend to all be the same models...we are not joking about GEo Metros and Satellite Sebrings!
You can make yourselves look a bit less tourist by not leaving maps, tourist mags, and ABC store bags on your seats. Maybe take inside-out tee shirts and pull them over the front seats as seat covers, and leave a school book on the seats?
I don't know if anything really helps...my husband's beater Volvo surfmobile has been broken into the same number of times as his shiny Lexus.
Sometimes you're just in the wrong place.
Nov 19th, 2004, 09:51 AM
#29
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
bebe0711 Don't know where you live but Waikiki is one of the cleanest large cities I have ever been to. They actually have people employed to scrape gum off of the sidewalks! No joke! Concur with IamBooth, Waikiki is indeed a great place for a vacation. I thought it was cleaner than Maui. Lots of litter around the roads on Maui which is a shame.
Nov 19th, 2004, 12:53 PM
#30
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yes, Maimanalo is indeed the place where the break-in of our rental car occurred on 11/4/04. The Honolulu Police were the ones who came out to the site after the 911 call however.
The staff at McDonalds informed us after the fact "it happens all the time behind the restaurant." We were parked at the front entrance and the drive-thru cars had to drive right around our car to exit. It certainly looked like paradise in that area.
We, however, were wondering why there were no other restuarants around for miles. It was the Honolulu Police who told us about the Crystal Meth problem and said that "Hawaii is too lenient" on prosecuting a car. They thoroughly fingerprinted the car both inside and outside. However, the police told us that suspects have been freed if fingerprints are found OUTSIDE of the car saying they "just touched the car while walking by."
To claify matters, we ABSOLUTELY LOVED HAWAII and visited 4 islands.
We are from the metro Detroit area which is a very high crime area so we try to take precautions. And, Maimanalo sure looked like paradise to us. Maybe we were too taken in by the surroundings and let down our guard.
The staff at McDonalds informed us after the fact "it happens all the time behind the restaurant." We were parked at the front entrance and the drive-thru cars had to drive right around our car to exit. It certainly looked like paradise in that area.
We, however, were wondering why there were no other restuarants around for miles. It was the Honolulu Police who told us about the Crystal Meth problem and said that "Hawaii is too lenient" on prosecuting a car. They thoroughly fingerprinted the car both inside and outside. However, the police told us that suspects have been freed if fingerprints are found OUTSIDE of the car saying they "just touched the car while walking by."
To claify matters, we ABSOLUTELY LOVED HAWAII and visited 4 islands.
We are from the metro Detroit area which is a very high crime area so we try to take precautions. And, Maimanalo sure looked like paradise to us. Maybe we were too taken in by the surroundings and let down our guard.
Nov 19th, 2004, 02:21 PM
#32
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 206
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
janita1989,
Yes, I say your post about Ko Olina. However, I am also interested in knowing that would I be able to find a beach in East Oahu that isnt too rough this time of the year.
Well, perhaps I should probably accept that there is going to be surf in most beaches in east and north Oahu. After all, this is winter. However, even assuming that, what conditions should I expect? Would there still be enough sandy area or does churning water fill up the entire beach? Does the water retain its torquise/blue color or is all murky and muddy? May be I am getting wrong picture of Oahu beaches in Winter season since when I hear that there is going to be high wind and big surf, I start imagining Florida beaches as they look in the hurricanes!
Nov 19th, 2004, 04:31 PM
#33
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,713
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you're determined to go to a beach on the east shore, there's always Hanauma Bay.
Otherwise, there's the beach next to the Kahala Mandarin - the public access is on the same road as if you were going to the Mandarin, but before Waialae Country Club. Don't know the name of the beach - always just called it Kahala Beach. It's pretty calm there and not very crowded usually. The sand itself can be kind of gravelly.
There's also Makapu'u Beach Park, but I'm not that familiar with that beach.
Otherwise, there's the beach next to the Kahala Mandarin - the public access is on the same road as if you were going to the Mandarin, but before Waialae Country Club. Don't know the name of the beach - always just called it Kahala Beach. It's pretty calm there and not very crowded usually. The sand itself can be kind of gravelly.
There's also Makapu'u Beach Park, but I'm not that familiar with that beach.
Nov 19th, 2004, 04:50 PM
#34
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,120
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This post is "late" for the obvious technology reason.
noblesm: you need to put down the maui wowie, too. Using your illogical non-reasoning, should I stay away from my own home? I had a car stolen there once. This is pathetic...
noblesm: you need to put down the maui wowie, too. Using your illogical non-reasoning, should I stay away from my own home? I had a car stolen there once. This is pathetic...
Nov 19th, 2004, 05:29 PM
#35
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,803
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I didn't say that the license plates were different--I said that rental cars do not have license plate frames on the plates. Big giveaway that the car is a rental. Check it out--if you have two identical newer Neons, the one with the Cutter or Island Dodge frame on the rear plate will be the local one.
Nov 19th, 2004, 06:07 PM
#36
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 724
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Excuse me but am I missing something?
Is there ANY travel destination that
1) does NOT have any car break-ins?
2) does not have any drug users in the community?
3) is completely crime-free?
Even in what used to be "Mayberry" type rural areas, where no one locked their cars or houses, folks lock their cars even in their driveways.
I've been lucky in many years of steady business and leisure travel I've only had one car break-in...and that was in downtown Nashville of all places.
I chuckled when rental counter agents in Hawaii and Caribbean warned us not to lock Jeep or equivalent soft tops - to avoid slashing to get to the goods. Now, I know why they offer the warning!
I just don't understand the poster's "The sky is falling mentality". Geez! Where the heck do you live Spitz?
Is there ANY travel destination that
1) does NOT have any car break-ins?
2) does not have any drug users in the community?
3) is completely crime-free?
Even in what used to be "Mayberry" type rural areas, where no one locked their cars or houses, folks lock their cars even in their driveways.
I've been lucky in many years of steady business and leisure travel I've only had one car break-in...and that was in downtown Nashville of all places.
I chuckled when rental counter agents in Hawaii and Caribbean warned us not to lock Jeep or equivalent soft tops - to avoid slashing to get to the goods. Now, I know why they offer the warning!
I just don't understand the poster's "The sky is falling mentality". Geez! Where the heck do you live Spitz?
Nov 19th, 2004, 06:23 PM
#38
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
look spitz, you are taking a beating here and i realize you were only trying to warn us of a bad thing that happened to you. i think you wanted a perfect vacation but it did not turn out that way because of the car thingy. we are sorry about that. it can happen in motor city too i bet. so why not give us a good trip report about the good things that happened to you during your trip. i would love to read it. i think this trip was important to you. i am sorry about the car messing it up. tell us more about your trip.
Nov 19th, 2004, 10:09 PM
#39
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 154
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Gzseattle, yeah, I second Ala Moana beach park. Good beach for family. Sunset, Pipe and the others I mentioned get BIG waves in the winter. Someone mentioned Makapu'u but gotta be careful with that too sometimes. Just check and remember.....if in doubt, don't go out!
Nov 19th, 2004, 10:17 PM
#40
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 154
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I guess this didn't post the first time, so I try em again.
Spatz, sorry you had a bad experience but you gotta understand that could've happened anywhere.......Honolulu, Waimanalo, Waipahu, Hilo, Kahului or Kalamazoo! Kinda hard to make a blanket statement like "there is a MAJOR PROBLEM........on all of the islands in Hawaii." That was based on your attitude because of your experience. Anyways, glad you liked Hawaii and hope you can return sometime.
For those who suggested putting a shell lei around your rear-view mirror or leaving a 'local kine' item like a school text book on the front seat............COME ON! Locals get ripped off too, ya know. Ice users and other druggies really don't give a crap whether you're a local or not.
Oh....and to Melissa, looks like one of my post got lost too. Anyway, I appreciate the thought. REPRESENT! Chu know dat! Aloha
Spatz, sorry you had a bad experience but you gotta understand that could've happened anywhere.......Honolulu, Waimanalo, Waipahu, Hilo, Kahului or Kalamazoo! Kinda hard to make a blanket statement like "there is a MAJOR PROBLEM........on all of the islands in Hawaii." That was based on your attitude because of your experience. Anyways, glad you liked Hawaii and hope you can return sometime.
For those who suggested putting a shell lei around your rear-view mirror or leaving a 'local kine' item like a school text book on the front seat............COME ON! Locals get ripped off too, ya know. Ice users and other druggies really don't give a crap whether you're a local or not.
Oh....and to Melissa, looks like one of my post got lost too. Anyway, I appreciate the thought. REPRESENT! Chu know dat! Aloha
