HONOLULU (KHON2) — More cameras are being installed at the Sheridan Community Park where an arson investigation was launched in June 2025.
Officials said existing cameras helped in the investigation and apprehension of a suspect.
The playground at Sheridan Community Park was set ablaze in late June and needed to be torn down — a suspect was arrested and charged with first-degree arson. A public notice states 13 cameras are being installed in and around the area.
“We’ve got a playground behind us that can’t be used, the public’s hurt by that,” said Scott Nishimoto, the Honolulu City Councilmember for District 5. “And luckily, because of cameras, we were able to apprehend a suspect.”
There are already over a half dozen cameras installed at Sheridan Community Park, and officials said that those very cameras helped with the arson investigation into the playground fire in June. Officials said that a public park does not mean that the public has the right to privacy.
“If you read the notice, it says that, you know, the cameras are out there installed, but they’re not activated yet. So there’s the one that is previously activated that’s recording. And those other ones will start recording in the beginning of October,” said Department of Parks and Recreation spokesman Nate Serota.
“You don’t have an expectation of privacy in a public park, so I don’t think that’s an issue,” Nishimoto said.
Neighborhood leaders pointed out that the main concern is crime in the area.
“So as far as privacy goes with the cameras, the concern is more towards, ‘Hey, let’s come up with initiatives to make sure that, you know, crime is being deterred in the area,’” said Ala Moana-Kakaako Neighborhood Board chair Kathleen Lee.
“We’ve not only seen it with playgrounds, we’ve seen it in City restrooms, where people have been destroying the restrooms. If it’s going to deter behavior like that, then I think we need to have cameras in parks to deter that kind of behavior,” Nishimoto said.
A full list of City parks that have cameras already installed is below:
- ‘A‘ala Park
- ‘Aiea District Park
- Ala Moana Regional Park
- Beretania Community Park
- Foster Botanical Garden
- Hālona Blowhole Lookout
- Kaiaka Bay Beach Park
- Kaka‘ako Regional Park
- Kapi‘olani Regional Park
- Kūhiō Beach Park
- Mānoa Valley District Park
- Paki Community Park
- Patsy T. Mink Central O‘ahu Regional Park
- Sandy Beach Park
- Sheridan Community Park
- Waialae Beach Park
- Wahiawā District Park pool
- Waipahū Cultural Garden Park / Hawai‘i Plantation Village
- Waimānalo District Park