Six shooting incidents over the Fourth of July weekend on Oʻahu, a majority on the Westside, left half a dozen people injured. 

The toll has made this holiday already more violent than last year’s, bringing the total to eight aggravated assaults between July 3 and July 5 compared to five during the same period last year, according to Honolulu Police Department data. 

So many shootings in such a short timespan are “particularly concerning as our community gathers to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday weekend,” Chief Joe Logan said during a press conference on Saturday afternoon.

Police also responded to 127 fireworks violations — three more than last year. 

Logan said he believed the new law aimed at making it easier for law enforcement to charge those using illegal fireworks likely led more people to call police to report violations. One provision in the law changed the definition that had required investigators to prove the weight of explosives in aerial fireworks in order to charge people — an impossible task once a firework has been set off.

“The fact that we have a better definition, our officers are better equipped to enforce these current laws,” Logan said.  

Shootings Started In The Middle Of The Night

The violence started around midnight on Thursday near Māʻili Beach Park on the Westside, according to police. A 22-year-old man camping with family and friends was shot in the chest while walking back from the parking lot. He was taken to the hospital in serious condition. A 16-year-old Waiʻanae resident was later arrested in that shooting. 

Shortly after midnight, a drive-by shooting took place in Waiʻanae. The shooter, firing out of a silver Toyota Corolla, missed the apparent target, a 25-year-old standing in front of his house, but damaged his car. 

At around 8:45 a.m. on the holiday, officers found two men, ages 48 and 58, in a car shooting into the ocean at Sewers Beach in Waiʻanae. The 48-year-old was arrested for having a firearm in an unpermitted place, being a felon in possession of a gun and two drug counts. The other man was also arrested on a drug charge. 

Then, at around 6:30 p.m. in ʻEwa Beach, an 18-year-old man shot his girlfriend who was sitting in the car with him on Kapolei Parkway. She, also 18, was taken to the hospital in serious condition with lower-body injuries. 

About an hour and a half later, a man fired multiple rounds into the air in Waiʻanae. No one was injured. 

The gun violence then spilled over into Saturday when five men, ages 18 to 35, were targeted by a shooter in a red Jeep pickup truck at around 1:30 a.m. in Kalihi. Four of the men were injured and taken to the hospital. 

‘We’re Asking The Community To Help Us’

Concerns about violence have been particularly high in West Oʻahu since three shootings in the span of 10 days last August drew more law enforcement focus to the area.

Nānākuli-Māʻili Neighborhood Board member Paul Aio said it feels like there has been a trend recently of young adults getting involved in gun violence.

“It seems to be that it’s occurring more often,” he said. 

Logan said patrols in the Kalihi and Waiʻanae area were more than fully staffed this year in preparation for the Fourth of July and would remain at that level through the rest of the weekend. Officers also assisted the Department of Law Enforcement with fireworks-related investigations, but those operations were completely separate from patrol, he said. 

Logan said he didn’t yet know whether any of the shootings that occurred over the holiday were gang related. 

To address concerns about young people getting involved in violence, he said six Honolulu police officers will begin serving as school resource officers this year at Waiʻanae High School and Kapolei High School. Three uniformed officers will be stationed at each school to mentor students and get them involved in the police activities league. 

Logan also called on community members to be vigilant and report suspicious activities in their neighborhoods. 

“We’re asking the community to help us,” he said. “Help us be part of the solution.”