Island of Oahu, Waikiki, Aston Waikiki

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 forearned - 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.