Here Are The 11 Most Dangerous Places In Hawaii After Dark
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 Hawaii as a whole is extremely safe in terms of violent crime, quite a bit of property crime occurs here, and no time is that more true than after the sun has slipped below the horizon.
Using information from AreaVibes.com and NeighborhoodScout.com, as well as statistics from the National Drug Intelligence Center, 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.
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Known to some as the “armpit of Oahu,” Wahiawa is 10th in the state in terms of crime, and drug use runs rampant. Total crimes are 22 percent higher here than the state as a whole.
For every 100,000 residents, there are 12.18 daily crimes that occur in this Maui town, and while crime has decreased drastically throughout the state, it hasn’t changed much in Kahului.
With a population of 6,000 - 10 percent of which live below the poverty line - property crime is all too common in this northern Maui census-designated place.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, 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.
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 24 chance of being a crime victim.
Not only is this city on Oahu seemingly rundown, methamphetamine use runs rampant among the city’s residents, according to the National Drug Intelligence Center. The overall crime rate is 50 percent higher than the national average.
With more than 10 years of experience as a professional writer, Megan holds a degree in Mass Media from her home state of Minnesota. After college, she chose to trade in her winter boots for slippahs and moved to the beautiful island of Oahu, where she has been living for more than five years. She lives on the west side but is constantly taking mini-road trips across the island and visits the neighboring islands whenever she can getaway. She loves hiking, snorkeling, locally-grown coffee, and finding the best acai bowl on Oahu.
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