Is Hawaii a safe place to visit? It’s a reasonable question, and no one blames you for wondering. After all, many regions around the globe regularly experience unrest. Therefore, it’s prudent to investigate the security of a destination before traveling there.

First and foremost, yes- Hawaii is safe.

Let’s be frank for a moment. It’s no secret that Hawaii’s primary industry is tourism. The State has a vested interest in maintaining a safe and stable environment and reputation. You wouldn’t want to bring your family to a place that was unsafe, and “the powers that be” know that. Therefore, they work very hard to keep Hawaii safe.

Is Hawaii Safe? Let’s Talk.

Statistically speaking, Hawaii is one of the safest states in the U.S., and definitely one of the safest tropical vacation destinations on the planet.

Honolulu, on the island of Oahu, is a major metropolitan area, and with that come the usual issues, mainly petty crime. However, Honolulu is still ranked as one of the safest cities in the U.S.! Beyond that, the rest of Oahu has even less crime, and the same goes for the neighbor islands.

Violent crime is incredibly low in Hawaii. In fact, you can feel secure knowing that the violent crime average is almost half what the national average is; and in addition to that, it’s declined even further from last year. Sadly most person to person crime in Hawaii is domestic violence. While this is a detriment to any community, it has little to no effect on visitors.

What About Waikiki? Is It Safe Too?

Yes! Thousands upon thousands of people visit Waikiki annually, without a single issue. Having said that, there are still the occasional (but rare) pick-pocket incidents.

Waikiki is simply the resort district of Honolulu, so still exercise the same caution as you would in any larger city, but know that Waikiki is one of the safest areas in Honolulu – which is already an incredibly safe city.

Tips on How to Stay Safe in Hawaii (and really, anywhere).

• Keep your personal belongings in a safe place. Almost all hotels room come equipped with a safe, so use it. Especially for jewelry and important documents, such as a passport.
• Keep your wallet and purse on your person when out and about.
• Don’t walk in deserted alleys after dark.
• Lock your hotel room door and balcony door.
• Don’t carry large amounts of cash on you.

The Kind of “Danger” You Should Actually Be Aware of in Hawaii

Despite Hawaii being an incredibly safe place for you and your family to visit, there are some dangers you need to be aware of.

Ocean Safety

According to the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association, approximately 50 people drown in Hawaii every year, and almost half are visitors. Please exercise caution when entering the ocean. Never to do while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and we strongly recommend you only swim at beaches protected by lifeguards.

Trail Safety

Hawaii has some of the most beautiful, exhilarating and challenging hikes in the world. It is tempting to overestimate your physical capabilities, especially when presented with such glorious hiking opportunities as in Hawaii. In reality, many hike rescues have to be performed each year in Hawaii. Only hike on marked trails, and abide by all posted trail signs and warnings. Don’t hike alone, and be sure to bring enough water and food.

Road Safety

If you happen to need a rental car in Hawaii, never drive under the influence. Although U.S. visitors won’t have to worry about converting kilometers to miles, or street signs in foreign languages, you do need to exercise caution when driving.  When you’re on vacation it’s tempting to let your hair down, and have that extra cocktail at your luau, or at dinner. Be that as it may, if you have to drive afterwards, remember that it’s just as easy to get a DUI in Hawaii as it is at home. Most importantly, driving while impaired is dangerous for you and for others on the road. Just don’t do it.

Weather and Other Natural Occurrences

Hawaii is equipped with a highly sophisticated island-wide alert system, including sirens. In the extremely rare event that there was a hurricane, earthquake, tsunami or volcanic eruption – you would know about it. If there is a natural occurrence while you’re in Hawaii, follow all broadcast instructions, and know that we will be here to assist in any way possible. Although the recent Maui fires were horribly tragic, and there were some failures on the part of some Hawaii agencies, rest assured that many hard lessons were learned. Lessons that won’t be easily forgotten.

To sum things up, you can feel secure in knowing that it is incredibly safe to visit Hawaii. Hawaii is blessed with very low crime rates, ideal weather and an overall culture of prioritizing safety for its residents and visitors.