Paradise has been corrupted, as local officials are warning tourists not to leave valuables unattended on Hawaiian beaches due to the sharp increase in crime.
Police in Honolulu have said that crime has gotten so high that it’s not a good idea for tourists to bring any valuables with them to the beach.
In a social media post from over the weekend,the Honolulu Police Department said that tourists are being targeted by criminals. As such, if they bring valuables with them to the beach, they should carry them into the ocean if they go for a swim, instead of leaving them on the beach — otherwise, they might be gone when they get back.
As the HPD wrote online:
“For those enjoying the beach, don’t leave valuables unattended on the sand. Instead, use a waterproof bag that you can take into the water with you.”
It’s a sad state of affairs when the local police department is suggesting people take valuables with them into the ocean. Apparently, they are suggesting that tourists bring valuables such as their wallets or bags, car keys, phones and more into a place that they typically don’t perform well in — the water.
Yet, that’s what it’s come to in Honolulu, where crime has skyrocketed recently.
When the HPD made the post over the weekend, many people expressed their shock in replies. One person asked if the post was a joke, while another suggested:
“How about arresting, prosecuting and locking up criminals?”
That being said, local media outlet Hawaii News Now quoted some people who said it was a good idea. One beachgoer said:
“You can never be too safe. If you have to take an extra precaution, it’s too easy to do so.”
Another one said:
“I don’t think it’s over the top. If you’re out for the day and taking all your cash and phones, you do have to be careful.”
According to a report in Hawaii News Now, this announcement comes as the beachfront in Honolulu has experienced a big spike in crime. In May alone, law enforcement officials reported that there were more than 160 thefts in that area of the city.
Honolulu is the capitol city of Hawaii, and it’s on the island of Oahu, which is the most visited island in the archipelago.
The state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, in March of this year, Oahu welcomed more than 843,000 visitors who arrived by air. Most of those visitors came from the East and West coasts of the U.S.
Tourism is a major part of Hawaii’s economy, so any negative reports like this threaten to convince travelers to go to other destinations. While there aren’t too many other destinations like Hawaii in the U.S., visitors could determine that traveling to other coastal states such as California, Florida or even Texas might be better than risking rising crime in Hawaii.
