HONOLULU (KHON2) — Despite a couple recent incidents in Chinatown, business leaders said the area’s been much safer than years past. But they’d like more to be done.
The viral video shows a man with a stick darting across the street and hitting an elderly man in broad daylight. This was on King Street in Chinatown.
“We’ve seen a decrease in homelessness and crime here in Chinatown,” said Wesley Fong, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce’s Chinatown Outreach Task Force Chair. “So the incident that happened is really a shock to us and we hope it’s an isolated incident.”
Benjamin’s Sweets is the new kid on the block having opened in March. The owner James Novey said he’s seen a lot.
“When you have somebody that’s using the restroom outside your door and you expect people to come and wanna buy something from you, well it doesn’t leave a very good taste in your mouth to see something like that,” said Novey.
Novey sayid the power outage in June brought out the worst.
“What’s more disconcerning is you see the reality of the homeless people when nobody’s here,” said Novey. “Generally speaking after 5, 6, it’s like the night of the living dead.”
The city says cleaning up Chinatown is a major focus of Mayor Blangiardi’s administration with many initiatives. The city just installed 30 brand new, high-resolution security cameras in the neighborhood. Plans are to install 30 more before the end of the year.
It also started a Chinatown law enforcement task force with officers volunteering to do overtime shifts to increase police presence.
And the city also recenlty finished a $4.4 million dollar upgrade of Kekaulike Mall including new pavement, drainage and electrical improvements.
“When Mayor Blangiardi said he’s gonna really clean up Chinatown, he really meant it,” said Fong.
Novey said he’d love to see some type of 24-hour private security for the area, similar to Kakaako. Because he feels like Chinatown has potential.
“I just feel like to try to be here is Iike a rebirth, or rejuvenization of Chinatown in a whole, and it’s kind of exciting because I feel there is a synergy,” said Novey.
The victim in the attack is said to be recovering. HPD did not respond to KHONʻs requests on if anybody was arrested.