Aston Waikiki Beachside Reviews

Oahu's Hidden secret - CRIME

I am aware that crime is rife everywhere around the world but on Oahu I am not sure whether they are ignoring it hoping that it will go away or, as I suspect, burying it so that it won't affect tourism.

There are violent crimes but the main crime is theft - especially from cars, especially items left in the boot, the beach and bag snatching.

36 hours after arriving on Oahu I went to Hanauma Bay. Finding the car park full at 9 a.m. I parked my car with about 30 others in a layby on highway 72.

I decided that it would be safer to lock my valuables in the boot of my car instead of leaving them on the beach - but when I returned everything had been stolen, my cash, credit cards, cameras, phones, even my dry clothes. There wasn't a mark on my hire car.

When I went to the police station to report the theft I had to wait in line behind everyone else reporting similar thefts. When I mentioned to the police officer that there was no damage to the car he said ";this gang is really sophisticated!";

When I contacted the consulate to replace my documents the lady said ";let me guess you left your items in the trunk of your car, everyone I speak to says the same thing";

Getting replacement passports isn't easy as you need 2 documents proving your British Citizenship, two passport photos and $77.50 per passport - they said but we do take credit cards, to which I replied ";so do lots of others but they don't return them!";

We had 4 days on the island, enjoyed 2 and spent the remaining two trying to sort out replacement credit cards etc.

There was NO warning of the possibility of theft but all the Islanders we spoke to said ";Oh it's a major problem now";

Forewarned is forearmed - so if you are visiting Oahu DON'T LEAVE YOUR VALUABLES IN THE CAR - MOST BEACHES HAVE LOCKERS BUT IF THEY DON'T LEAVE YOUR VALUABLES IN THE HOTEL SAFE.