Honolulu County, also called the City and County of Honolulu, is known for its stunning beaches and lush rainforests. However, it does have some areas with higher crime rates.
Honolulu County, comprising Oahu and several smaller islands like Ford Island, Ka’ula, and Sand Island, is the most populous county in Hawaii, with around 974,563 residents in 2020.
In 2020, the crime rate in Honolulu County was 43.69 per 1,000 residents, surpassing the national average of 26.8 per 1,000 residents. The violent crime rate was 2.56 per 1,000 residents, lower than the national median of 4 per 1,000 residents. Meanwhile, the property crime rate stood at 31.9 per 1,000 residents, higher than the national median of 19 per 1,000 residents.
Crime rates fluctuate across various neighborhoods and districts in Honolulu County. According to data from CrimeGrade.org, which employs UCR data and geographic information systems to map crime rates by location, these are some of the neighborhoods with higher crime rates in Honolulu County:
Kalihi-Palama
This area is in the heart of Honolulu, positioned north of downtown and to the west of Liliha-Kapalama. Approximately 39,000 people live here, with a typical household income of around $46,000. The crime rate is 97.59 per 1,000 residents, which is over double the county average. There is a violent crime rate of 8.14 per 1,000 residents and a property crime rate of 89.45 per 1,000 residents.
Read More:Â Discover the 5 Most Dangerous Neighborhoods in Ravalli County, Montana
Waianae
This area is on the western coast of Oahu, around 30 miles away from Honolulu. It’s home to about 13,000 people, with a typical household income of roughly $66,000. The crime rate here is 85.77 per 1,000 residents, which is nearly double the county average. Specifically, there’s a violent crime rate of 6.65 per 1,000 residents and a property crime rate of 79.12 per 1,000 residents.
Read More:Â Discover the 5 Most Dangerous Neighborhoods in Suffolk County, New York
Waipahu
This area is in central Oahu, close to Pearl Harbor and the H-1 freeway. It’s home to around 40,000 people with a typical household income of roughly $71,000. The crime rate here is 75.68 for every 1,000 residents, which is about 73% higher than the county’s average. For specific types of crime, there are 4.63 violent incidents and 71.05 property incidents for every 1,000 residents.
Read More:Â Discover the 5 Most Dangerous Neighborhoods in Stutsman County, North Dakota
Makiki-Lower Punchbowl-Tantalus
This area is in the middle of Honolulu, towards the east of downtown and south of Manoa. It’s home to around 28,000 people with an average household income of about $55,000. The crime rate is 72.32 for every 1,000 residents, which is roughly 65% higher than the county’s average. The rate of violent crime is 3.76 per 1,000 residents, while property crime is at 68.56 per 1,000 residents.
Read More:Â Discover the 5 Most Dangerous Neighborhoods in Spring Hill, Florida
Wahiawa
This area is situated in the middle of Oahu, to the north of Pearl City and Mililani. It’s home to around 17,000 people, with an average yearly household income of approximately $57,000. The crime rate here is 70.82 per 1,000 residents, which is roughly 62% higher than the average for the county. The violent crime rate stands at 5.29 per 1,000 residents, while the property crime rate is 65.53 per 1,000 residents.
Read More:Â Discover the 5 Most Dangerous Neighborhoods in Hudson County, New Jersey
Conclusion
Even though Honolulu County is often seen as a wonderful place, it also deals with its fair share of crime and violence. In 2020, according to the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program, there were a total of 11,906 reported crimes in Honolulu County, with 885 being violent crimes and 11,021 property crimes.
Keep in mind that these are just the five neighborhoods with the highest crime rates in Honolulu County. There are many other neighborhoods in the county with lower crime rates. Nevertheless, if you’re planning a visit or considering a move to Honolulu, it’s crucial to know about the crime rates in different areas to make an informed decision about where to stay.
