Report: Honolulu named ‘Safest City to Visit in the World’

Representatives of the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority, Hawaiʻi Lodging & Tourism Association, City and County of Honolulu, and an array of public safety professionals and visitor industry partners made a special announcement during a press conference at the Hawaiʻi Convention Center today commemorating Honolulu for being recognized by Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection as the “Safest City to Travel to in the World” in 2024.

In attendance were:

• Mufi Hannemann, Hawai‘i Tourism Authority Board Chair and Hawaiʻi Lodging & Tourism Association President and CEO
• Mayor Rick Blangiardi, City and County of Honolulu
• Chief Arthur “Joe” Logan, Honolulu Police Department
• Prosecutor Steve Alm, City and County of Honolulu
• Senator Sharon Moriwaki, Hawai‘i State Senate 
• Rick Egged, Waikīkī Improvement Association President
• Paul Kosasa, Waikīkī Business Improvement District Board Chair
• Jessica Lani Rich, Visitor Aloha Society of Hawai‘i President & CEO
• Jay Talwar, Hawai‘i Visitors and Convention Bureau Senior Vice President of Marketing, Chief Marketing Officer

Honolulu secured the top spot in ranked cities to visit for safety in 2024, after being ranked 12th by Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection in 2023. Honolulu also came in first for its health measures, women/LGBTQ+/BIPOC safety, and safety from violent crime; second pertaining to terrorism; and third for transportation (roads).

The group emphasized the collaborative efforts to ensure Honolulu, the island of O‘ahu and the rest of the Hawaiian Islands remain a safe and secure place for residents and travelers.

Hannemann hailed the success of recent programs, public safety workforce, and Hawai‘i’s diverse visitor industry professionals for their “continued commitment to safety and wellbeing of our people.” Hannemann continued, “There is nothing more important than ensuring our residents have safe communities for them to live, work and play, which in turn reinforces travelers’ connections with Hawai‘i as a safe and secure destination they will return to.”

According to the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism’s First Quarter 2024 Visitor Satisfaction and Activity Survey results being issued this week, more than 90% of visitors from all markets surveyed rated the Hawaiian Islands as “excellent” or “above average” when it comes to being a safe and secure destination.

Hannemann added, “It’s a competitive world and we will not rest on our laurels. We must ensure that people who come here continue to have a safe place to visit.”

“Our number one priority is public safety for all of us who live here, which thus extends to those who visit,” said Mayor Blangiardi. “It also shows that the aloha spirit permeates through our people, and travelers come away realizing all this and more. It reaffirms Hawai‘i as a global brand. And when you hear the word Honolulu — no matter where you are — travelers’ attitudes shift as there’s a deep respect for the people of this island.”

“As an organization, we are working with our community partners, elected officials and businesses here to keep the City and County of Honolulu safe for everyone, from partnering on programs such as Waikĩkī Safe and Sound or Weed and Seed in neighborhoods including Chinatown,” said Chief Logan. “We can’t do it alone as we work every single day for Honolulu to be the safest place in the world.” 

“This recognition is a testament to everyone here about making Honolulu as safe as possible, as well as every other community on O‘ahu,” said Prosecutor Alm. “From the community organizations and neighborhood boards to each individual, it’s about collaboration and working together.”

Kosasa said, “We are thrilled to celebrate Honolulu’s recognition as the ‘Safest City to Visit in the World’ by Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection’s State of Travel Insurance Safest Destinations. This accolade highlights the incredible collaboration among all our partners.”

Kosasa added, “For the past 24 years, WBID has been steadfast in our mission to maintain Waikīkī as a world class ‘Clean and Safe’ destination. We invest over $4 million annually in safety initiatives, including our Aloha Ambassador program, homelessness and street medicine outreach, and our strong partnerships with law enforcement agencies. This year, we are witnessing remarkable results in crime reduction and a significant improvement in ‘the eye test,’ making Waikīkī safer and more welcoming than ever before. These efforts reflect the success of public-private partnerships and our ongoing commitment to ensuring a secure and vibrant environment for both our residents and visitors.”

Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection’s State of Travel Insurance Safest Destinations report is the longest-running and most-trusted research project tracking US travelers’ attitudes toward travel safety and travel insurance. To determine these rankings, BHTP analyzes a combination of the State of Travel Insurance survey responses compiled in September from travelers who have been to the destinations along with several third-party data sources. These additional sources evaluate safety concerns such as terrorism, weather emergencies, health measures and the safety of underrepresented groups.