Crime in Hawaii for real?
 

We are planning our first trip to the Islands - have read all the books and every one of them mentions that crime is on the rise. Do not leave ANYTHING in your car?<BR>Car windows bashed, items stolen?<BR>Anyone have an experience with this? Can not imagine hauling everything out of the car every time we hop out to a beach.<BR>

This is good practice no matter where you go, not only in Hawaii.<BR><BR>If you leave anything out in the open in your car you are asking for trouble, no matter how large or small the item.

The economy is down and more people are out of work. Crime is up but don't let it ruin your vacation. Leave your valuables in the hotel safe,take precautions, and you'll be fine.

For years I was a crisis intervention counselor, and I do not mention these 2 incidents to scare you, as crime happens everywhere, but to make you aware - it is not just your physical possessions you need to be aware of but your actual bodies. I counseled 2 women, one who escaped physical harm and the other who was raped walking back to their hotel room. (Hawaii Govt takes crime against tourist extremely serious as this is a major industry, travel that is not crime) and the women had all expenses covered when they returned for the trail. Also, on a personal note, my cousin's husband was raped and murdered, they were not tourist, they had temp relocated. Again crime can happen anywhere, just be aware.

Theft of items left in an unlocked (or locked) automobile near tourist sites is almost a given. A lot of these thefts are committed by losers who are addicted to crystal meth and other drugs. Hanauma Bay parking, anywhere near Waimanalo and Waianae are three places on O'ahu notorious for break in's! I used to live in California and I am a lot more relaxed when it comes to crime here in Hawai'i Nei....

Go to Saba in the Caribbean. No crime... no beaches either, but: "What?! You want everything?!"

I hear Detroits nice this time of year. I also believe where I read the murder rate is not as bad as everyone says. Hmmmm..... sounds tempting?

Sorry if I gave the impression that I am a novice traveler who doesn't get that crime is everywhere. There just seemed to be a heavy emphasis on this, more so than in other travel destination books. Made it sound like cars were getting bashed in on a regular basis. Obviously we wouldn't leave anything of value in the open. Just posting a question of interest to me. Thanks for your responses.

I go to Hawaii each winter for a month. I have never (in 12 years) been a victim of crime. I don't believe crime is any worse, and probably is less, than any other place. If you park your car in areas where alot of people are around, noone is going to bash in your windows, or break into your trunk. I would heed the standard warnings and keep valuables out of the car, just for extra precaution. As I have said, I have never had any problems and have been to all islands. I personally believe Hawaii is actually a pretty safe place. I have friends who also go year after year and have never heard that they have had any crime problems either. Just use your common sense.

We spent 10 days on Oahu last August and felt perfectly safe. Never got a sense of Hawaii being more crime-ridden than any other place. As Brenda said above, we just used our common sense. (On our family vacations, I am known as "the keeper of the family crap": I have a decent-sized backpack I wear that will hold a day's worth of paraphernalia (sp?)- so that I don't have to leave much if anything in the car.)

Does anyone use a valuable fanny pack while swimming. We were sold a leaking one last year.

I was wondering the same. I've read in so many different places (guide books & internet sites etc) to leave the car unlocked with the windows rolled down slightly and nothing of value left behind. It's kind of freaking me out since I don't recall ever reading this about other travel destinations. Where do you put your money and credit cards if you're out for the day and you happen upon a beach you'd like to swim or snorkel? I understand taking precautions, which we always do anyway, but the advice seems extreme to me. Will the rental agencies hold us accountable if a thief damages the car during a burglary?

I've had my car broken into in Maui while we took a short walk to a secluded waterfall.<BR><BR>I would take as little as possibe with you, if you think you might be going to a beach or parking at a trail head.<BR><BR>We took our things to the beach and had no problem. We saw several people with small waterproof pouches or containers,,that, I supposed, contained their valuables.<BR><BR><BR>Regarding your liability for car rental. When our car was broken into, we were responsible for the damge to the car, the loss of revenue while the car was in the shop and coudn't be rented, and an administrative fee. It's all there in the fine print on your agreement. ( I know it's there because I read the fine print afterward.<BR><BR>Fortunatley our insurance and credit card covered the monetary damage.<BR><BR>I noticed at one beach there were kids hiding in the trees waiting fo rpeople to head for the beach so they could "visit" your car. <BR><BR>Now,we always leave our car with the windos half down.

I really think that those who break into cars do so at the remote and less crowded places. The main beaches are pretty safe. If you will be hiking in remote places, there may be a small risk so take your stuff with you. Alot of folks here seem to be overly concerned about this problem when I really think there is a small risk. Also, there are lots of waterproof wallets etc. that one can purchase for the beach if you are going to be leaving your things on the beach while you swim, etc.. The best thing we found was to always have one person stay with the stuff, if that is possible. Don't be too freaked out, Hawaii is not that bad, people.

Danno, Chin and I have solved the Hawaian crime problem. You are absolutely safe here.

Our car was broken into while we were parked along the main road to Hana.<BR><BR>While on a beach, we heard several stories of people whose friends cars were broken into while at the beach.<BR><BR>The quiet secluded beaches in Hawaii are probably among the worst for break ins.<BR><BR>The bottom line is, (as clint Eastwood used to say) "Do you feel lucky?".<BR><BR>

I have heard numerous times that the crime most committed on tourists is rape.It seems thatwhen women are raped and then have to go back home, and they cannot not stay to have the person caught and tried.Tourists are fair game it seems in Hawaii.

I'm not sure, but I think for a crime as serious as rape, the state would pick up the expenses of a return trip for a trial.<BR><BR>As for car breakins...no one is going to pick your expeses for a trial( in the unlikely even t that a crook is caught)...and you can be sure,,,the thieves knowi this.

Hey Dick, Keyboarding 101, thanks for the laugh.

You got me....I'm actually a good speller....but as you can see,,I'm a shitty typist.