According to the Honolulu Advertiser, robberies and aggravated assaults increased 9.8% during the first 6 months of 2006 compared to last year. They also reported that this is the first increase in crime on Oahu since 2003. As seen in the box to the left (source The Honolulu Advertiser), all violent crimes have increased with the exception of murder.

At the same time, property crime, burglary, and larceny have gone down, with arson and motor vehicle theft going up. What’s going on? According to Charles Goodwin, a special Honolulu FBI agent says not to read too much into it, since Honolulu’s overall crime rate is still below the national average. But personally, I think we NEED to take this seriously. Just because we are below the national average, doesn’t mean we should allow things to get worse. Instead, we should be striving to not only be below the national average, but be the LOWEST nationally.

Why should be settle for less? I mean, when we think of Hawaii, we think of beaches, fun, a place to retire, etc. We shouldn’t worry that we might be killed, raped, or robbed. I also don’t think we should be comparing our crime rate data to the nation. Instead, we should be trying to bring the crime rates down, regardless if it’s already low. We shouldn’t slack and think we are still doing pretty good keeping the crime down. We should work harder so that we have even less violent crimes.

Bottomline, let’s take this message as a reminder that we need to work harder to keep crime down, whatever crime it may be. Let’s not rejoice that we have one of the lowest crime rates in the nation. Let’s work harder to rid of crime, then we’ll rejoice.

• Hawaii Well Below National Average in Pay
• Bring Your Bros, Renting Rates slow on Oahu
• Honolulu Tops Average Gas Price in the Nation…Again

               
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