‘It works’: Lazar outlines plans for reducing youth crime, issues in Kalihi

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Honolulu’s new police chief empathized with Kalihi families worried about crime, substance abuse and gambling Monday evening.

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Chief David Lazar assured residents he has a plan during a talk story event at Farrington High School that drew dozens. Several attendees raised concerns over youth crime.

“The word Kalihi means at the edge and everybody is at the edge of all this crime,” area resident June Talia said.

Talia referenced the 15-year-old boy shot in Halawa over the weekend.

“What he doing out there after hours, what happened to the curfew in Hawaii, what happened?,” Talia added.

Lazar told the crowd the antidote to youth crime is healthy youth activities.

“Let’s get them involved with us, let’s get the involved with the boys and girls club,” Lazar said. “So that we don’t really have to crack down on curfew because the kids are so busy. I know it sounds like a dream, and you know ‘he’s dreaming, he’s disconnected,’ but I tell you, it works.”

Honolulu City Council Member Tyler Dos Santos-Tam, who represents part of Kalihi, said, “I think in Kalihi, there’s historically been issues with game rooms, with drugs, with violence, especially among the youth, and I think having a new chief who comes from the outside who can give a new perspective to really move things forward is going to be key.”

Another hot topic during the event — the third of Lazar’s talk stories — was illegal game rooms.

The chief encouraged residents to report the facilities and promised the department will do its part.

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“Supporting our personnel to continue to raid these places, arrest people, take the equipment, make a good case, work the prosecutors and prosecution, and be relentless,” Lazar said.

The chief also answered questions about drugs in the area.

Kalihi resident Kekoa Kealoha asked, “A lot of the people that are committing some of these crime are also our ‘ohana…We also don’t want our ‘ohana to become casualties of the system, so how do you, chief, kind of toe that line?”

Lazar responded, “We have to do everything we can to everything that we can to get them connected to drug treatment and services.”

Lazar admitted Kalihi is facing challenges because its station is understaffed. To fill the gap, the department has been ramping up recruitment.

“The exciting part is, couple of months ago, we hired our largest class in 12 years with 66 recruits, we’re now down to 63. We’re on track to hire just as many next month,” Lazar shared.

The chief plans to hold another talk story on Wednesday, Oct. 7, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Waialua United Church of Christ.

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