New HPD chief says he favors a new police district for Waianae

WAIANAE (HawaiiNewsNow) – It’s been eight weeks since David Lazar took over as chief of the Honolulu Police Department. He’s now going around Oahu learning his new beat, and made Waianae his first stop.

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“I turning 60 and in all my nears, no chief of police ever came out to the Waianae moku to meet with the Waianae people, so I want to thank you and your staff,” one resident told Lazar during the “talk story” session Wednesday evening at the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center.

Area residents took note that he started these sessions in Waianae.

“I’m pleased that he chose Waianae as his first place to come out because, you know, we’re always last, or always at the bottom of the list,” said Leina Kanana, VCCHC vice president. ”But for Waianae to be chosen as his first place to come and talk story, it means a lot and says a lot to this community.”

“We have to be close to the community, to hear what’s going on on the ground,” Lazar told Hawaii News Now.

“The fact-finding tour that he’s doing across the island is a very important part of him starting off his tenure as chief correctly,” said area City Councilmember Andria Tupola, who has been a critic of previous HPD administrations.

For years, residents have been concerned about violent crime, especially three years ago, when HPD said homicides were up 80 percent.

“Although our homicides have gone down, from the 80 percent from the shooting homicides, we need more presence on the west side,” said Makaha resident Austin Salcedo.

The chief agrees.

Before the floor was opened to residents to ask questions, the chief answered preliminary questions from his chief of staff.

“Do you feel that the Waianae coast has adequate staffing and police resources?” asked HPD Maj. Parker Bode.

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“No. No, no,” Lazar replied, drawing applause from the gathering.

HPD’s District 8 actually includes the area all the way from Ewa Beach to Makaha.

“What’s troubling to me is that the officers assigned to Waianae are mostly based out of Kapolei,” said Lazar. “It’s time for a District 9. It’s time for a new station, to have officers at the new station.”

The remark drew sustained applause.

West Oahu’s Native Hawaiian community also had questions for the first Honolulu police from outside Hawaii in 90 years.

“In your first 100 days on the job, how do you intend to learn about the history, the language of Hawaii to ensure that future training materials are aligned to the history and the language?” one resident asked.

“Every single thing that we do as HPD needs to be about the culture,” Lazar replied. “It needs to be through the Hawaiian lens, our policies.”

Lazar also noted that his older daughter speaks the Hawaiian language and has studied Hawaiian history. He also credited Kumu Hinaleimoana Wong for mentoring him in Hawaiian language and culture.

The police chief also wants more officers to come from the area to help reduce crime.

“We in the department have to encourage our newer officers, if they’re from Waianae, to come work in Waianae because they know the families, they know the aunties, they know the kids, they know the situation.”

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