It is 241 am.. My fiance and I have been driving up and down Nuuanu/Liliha because we hear what appears to be a club near our house. It's so loud that I thought it was our neighbors, but it isn't. The acoustics are so loud at our house yet, driving down to Bates or Judd, it's muffled. We even went far as Chinatown, but nothing out of the ordinary there. We can't place exactly where the sound is coming from, nor we don't see a large party happening. This is the first and hopefully the last time I will be hearing this sort of thing, especially if it's in/near residential. I would be baffled if a new club opened up near by and they allow such decibels to be that high.
Quieter O'ahu Response:
Aloha,
What you may have heard is a Boom Car. Automobiles that have extremely powerful and loud stereos have been nicknamed "Boom Cars." The numbers of Boom Cars on the streets of O'ahu is larger than many would expect, and the numbers and power of the systems they have installed is increasing rapidly. The pounding bass noise can be heard and felt over a long distance, can rattle windows and travel through walls. Nationwide, millions of people are adversely affected by this noise. You can read more about this particular form of noise pollution on our website at https://www.quieteroahu.com/illegally-used-boom-car-stereos.html .
Because they are mobile, they are difficult to track down, so your driving throughout the neighborhood and not finding anything is probably the result of the car moving on. That said, operation of these high powered stereos is illegal in Hawai'i. If you do find someone operating one of these systems you can always phone 911 and make a report under the Revised Ordinances of Honolulu (ROH) 41-31.1 which in part states:
Hawai'i Law - ROH Sec. 41-31.1 Prohibited Noise.
(a) It is unlawful for any person or persons to play, use, operate or permit to be played, used or operated, any radio, tape recorder, cassette player or other machine or device for reproducing sound, if it is located in or on any of the following:
(1) Any public property, including any public street, highway, building, sidewalk, park or thoroughfare; or
(2) Any motor vehicle on a public street, highway or public space; and if the sound generated is audible at a distance of 30 feet from the device producing the sound.
(b) Possession by a person or persons of any of the machines or devices enumerated in subsection (a) shall be prima facie evidence that person operates, or those persons operate, the machine or device.
(Added by Ord. 90-26)
Sec. 41-31.2 Enforcement.
(a) Powers of Arrest or Citation. Any authorized police officer shall issue a citation for any violation under this article, except they may arrest for instances when:
(1) The alleged violator refuses to provide the officer with such person's name and address and any proof thereof as may be reasonably available to the alleged violator.
(2) When the alleged violator refuses to cease such person's illegal activity after being issued a citation.
You can find the wording of the full ordinance on our website at: https://www.quieteroahu.com/hawaii-noise-laws.html .
That's the good news, that the City and County have enacted an ordinance protecting you from this abusively loud noise. The bad news, however, is that a responding officer may refuse to issue a citation under their "officer's discretion." But if no one reports, it's certain that no citations will be issued. Also, we always add the caution that you should leave enforcement to HPD - you should never confront a violator yourself. Be safe. Just dial 911.
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Mahalo,
Quieter O'ahu