Maui Crime at Record Low in 2016, Violent Crime Down 19%

By Wendy Osher

Maui Crime at record low in 2016. Maui Now/Wendy Osher graphic.

Maui County’s total Index Crime rate in 2016 was the highest in the State of Hawaiʻi; but it was also its lowest level on record since the start of statewide data collection in 1975.  The information was compiled in the State of Hawaiʻi’s annual Uniform Crime Report, Crime in Hawaiʻi, 2016 released today by the State Attorney General’s office.

Maui County Highlights:
Index and Property Crime Down
Murders, Arson, Vehicle Thefts Up

In Maui County, the report shows record low rates for total Index Crimes and property crime in 2016, with decreases of 5.6% and 4.3% respectively, when compared to year before levels. Maui County’s violent crime rate fell by 19.1% in 2016, and its burglary and larceny-theft rates decreased to record low levels as well.

In Maui County, there were a total of 6,191 Index crimes (-5.6%) in 2016.  That included 450 violent crimes (-19.1%).  Violent crimes included: 5 murders (+25%); 77 rapes (-18%); 68 robberies (-40%); and 300 aggravated assaults (-13%).

Property crimes in Maui County also decreased with a total of 5,741 incidents (-4.3%).  This included: 978 burglaries (-2.8%); 4,046 larcenty-thefts (-8.3%) and 717 motor vehicle thefts (+23%).

In a separate category for arson, there were 150 incidents in Maui County in 2016.  That’s a 39% increase from the year before when 108 arson incidents occurred.  Arson incidents experienced double digit growth on all islands, except for Kauaʻi, where arson was down 34%.

There were no human trafficking offenses reported for either 2015 or 2016 in Maui County.

The data reflects record low rates in Maui County for its total Index crime, property crime, burglaries and larceny-thefts, according to data compiled by the Attorney General’s office.

According to the report, in 2016, 11.5% of Hawaiʻi’s population resided in Maui County, where 13.1% of the state’s total index crimes, 10.2% of the violent crimes, and 13.4% of the property crimes were reported.

Over the past decade from 2007 to 2016, Maui County’s population increased more than 16%, and the total number of reported index crimes decreased 14.3%, violent crimes increased 43.8% and property crimes decreased 16.9%.

Statewide Highlights:
(*As reported by the State Attorney General)

The State of Hawaiʻi’s annual Uniform Crime Report, Crime in Hawaiʻi, 2016 shows that in Calendar Year 2016, a total of 45,805 Index Crimes were reported in Hawaiʻi, yielding a rate of 3,206 offenses per 100,000 resident population, the lowest on record since statewide data collection began in 1975. Hawaiʻi’s Index Crime rate in 2016 was 6.2% below the rate reported in 2015, and 27.1% below the rate reported a decade earlier (2007).

“The record low crime statistics in 2016 highlight the outstanding work of law enforcement throughout the State and in all four counties. These numbers also help refute the false narrative from President Trump’s administration that crime in our country is at an all-time high,” said Attorney General Chin.

A total of 3,452 violent Index Crimes were reported statewide in 2016, yielding a rate of 241.6 offenses per 100,000 residents. Hawaiʻi’s violent Index Crime rate in 2016 was 2.0% below the rate reported in 2015, and 12.5% below the rate reported in 2007.

There were 42,353 property Index Crimes reported statewide in 2016, yielding a record low rate of 2,965 offenses per 100,000 residents. Hawaii’s property Index Crime rate in 2016 was 6.5% below the rate reported in 2015, and 28.0% below the rate reported in 2007.

Other highlights of Crime in Hawaiʻi, 2016 include:

● The rate of reported offenses for two violent Index Crimes decreased in the State of Hawaiʻi in 2016: robbery, by 9.0%; and aggravated assault, by 2.3%. The rate of reported offenses for the other two violent Index Crimes increased: murder, by 20.9%; and rape, by 11.9%.

● Rates of reported offenses decreased for two property Index Crime categories: burglary, by 12.0%; and larceny-theft, by 6.6%. The motor vehicle theft rate increased by 1.3%.

* Including the violent Index Crimes of murder, rape, aggravated assault, robbery, and tracked separately, human trafficking, commercial sex acts and human trafficking, involuntary servitude; the property Index Crimes of burglary, motor vehicle theft, and larceny-theft; and, tracked separately, arson.

● Maui County reported record low rates for total Index Crimes and property crime in 2016, with decreases of 5.6% and 4.3%, respectively, as compared to 2015. Maui County’s violent crime rate fell by 19.1% in 2016, and its burglary and larceny-theft rates decreased to record low levels.

● The number of Index Crime arrests fell by 20.1% statewide in 2016. Arrests for violent Index Crimes decreased 13.9%, and arrests for property Index Crimes decreased 21.7%. Crime in Hawaii, 2016 also provides state and county data on the age, gender, and race/ethnicity of arrestees.

● The City & County of Honolulu’s total Index Crime rate, violent crime rate, and property crime rate all decreased by approximately 2.5% in 2016, and its burglary rate fell to a record low level.

● In 2016, Hawaiʻi County’s total Index Crime rate and property crime rate decreased 24.1% and 26.5%, respectively, to reach their record low levels, and the violent crime rate rose 16.3%. Hawaiʻi County’s burglary rate in 2016 was also at its record low level.

● Kauaʻi County’s total Index Crime rate decreased 5.3% in 2016, reaching its lowest level on record. The violent crime rate decreased 24.1% and the property crime rate dropped 7.8%, also reaching a record low level. In 2016, Kauai County also reported its record low burglary, larceny-theft, and motor vehicle theft rates.

● Thirty-five murders were reported statewide in 2016, marking a 20.7% increase compared to the prior year. Males comprised 91% of the alleged murder offenders and 66% of the victims in 2016. Roughly two-thirds (68.6%) of the murder victims knew the offenders, and firearms were used in about half (51.4%) of the murders.

● Of the 2,851 murders, robberies, and aggravated assaults reported statewide in 2016, 43.9% were committed using strongarm weapons (i.e., hands, fists, and feet); 25.2% with “other” or unknown weapons; 18.3% with knives or other edged weapons; and 12.6% with firearms.

● Over $80 million in property value was reported stolen in the State of Hawaii in 2016, down 5.9% from the figure reported in 2015. Of the total value stolen in 2016, 32.2% was recovered, marking an increase from the 29.5% that was recovered in 2015.

● No police officers were killed in the line of duty in the State of Hawaii during 2016, but 373 officers were assaulted, yielding a rate of 12.5 assaults per 100 officers. Crime in Hawaii, 2016 also provides data on the time of day, type of assignment, and the weapons used in assaults against police officers.

● On October 31, 2016, a total of 2,995 police officers and 784 civilians were employed by the four county police departments, denoting a 0.4% increase in workforce from the figures reported from October 31, 2015.

Record Crime Rates*
State of Hawaiʻi and Counties, 2016

State of Hawaiʻi

Record low total Index Crime rate.
Record low property crime rate.
Record low burglary rate.
Record low larceny-theft rate.

City & County of Honolulu

Record low burglary rate.

Hawaiʻi County

Record low total Index Crime rate.
Record low property crime rate.
Record low burglary rate.

Maui County

Record low total Index Crime rate.
Record low property crime rate.
Record low burglary rate.
Record low larceny-theft rate.

Kauaʻi County

Record low total Index Crime rate.
Record low property crime rate.
Record low burglary rate.
Record low larceny-theft rate.
Record low motor vehicle theft rate.

* Within jurisdiction, since the start of statewide data collection in 1975.