Motorcycle noise in Waikiki

9/12/2016

Comment
I am visiting the Honolulu area to interview for a job. I am staying at the Ala Moana Hotel on the 20th floor. I was stunned tonight at the level of noise being created by motorcycle gangs passing by the hotel repeatedly on Atkinson. I contacted the Honolulu Police Department and was informed that I could file a complaint, but would need to meet the officer in person at the scene of the loud noise. I am flying out of Oahu tomorrow early morning, so I don't have time to pursue this.

Because I will probably be obtaining lodging in a high rise apartment if I accept the job offer I am having second thoughts about moving here because of the high noise levels. Is there any hope that this type of noise will eventually be controlled?

Quieter O'ahu Oct 12 (1 day ago)

Thanks for your note.

Yes, motorcycle noise is one of our biggest noise problems on O'ahu, and the Honolulu Police Department (HPD) does, for the most part, makes it as difficult as possible to register complaints.

Whomever you spoke with, however, erred in saying that you "must" meet with an officer. A complaint made to HPD of ordinance/law violation must be investigated, and the individual making the complaint should be given an opportunity to speak with an officer, but not required to do so. Personally, I take the opportunity to meet with them each time I register a complaint, so to put a face on the problem.

Take the job. O'ahu, despite our noise issues, is still a beautiful place to live. We'll keep tackling the noise problem and take every small victory we can as progress overall.

Aloha and Mahalo,
A Quieter O'ahu

4 Comments

Kenneth Cannon

9/22/2018 01:36:07 pm

Recently, I was visited by friends from Oslo, Norway and while having dinner at the Moana Surfrider a huge motorcycle “gang” rode bye on Kalakaua destroying the peaceful mood at the restaurant. The roar of their straight pipes and the stench of their exhaust was more than my guests could take.

Jan, visibly upset, said,”The motorcycle noise in Honolulu is the most outrageous example of the toleration of lawlessness in any civilized city, anywhere!” That, from a well traveled visitor from Norway.

A moment later, a Chinese Doctor and his wife visiting from Shanghai who happened to be seated at an adjacent table, recounted (in perfect English) an event that had happened just days ago on Kalakaua Ave.. As the light changed on Kalakaua and the pedestrian lights signaled a crossing, the elderly doctor stepped off the curb to cross. Simultaneously, a chopped motorcycle and it’s ragged rider appeared in front position at the light and revved his mufflerless engine while at a full stop.

The elderly physician said that it was so loud that he lost his footing and fell briefly into the crosswalk. The ragged rider did not offer help but LAUGHED at the physician knowing full well that his rev caused the fall.

Needless to say, the physician was shocked and slightly injured by the unnecessary fall but the memory will linger and survive thousands of tellings.

Is this how we want foreign visitors to remember their trip to Hawaii? This will come back to bite all of us!

Ken Cannon

April Liu

9/4/2021 05:43:45 am

I am visiting Oahu and staying at an Airbnb in the high rise. I was shocked to hear super loud noises repeatedly at night and every night. We have an infant who is sometimes woke up by the noise and feel very upset. I don’t know how local people and birds tolerate it. And shame on those motorcycle riders who have no respect of the neighborhood. And I am disappointed that Hawaii government hasn’t done enough about it.

Nancy Lipsett

9/19/2021 12:41:36 pm

I live at the Waikiki Landmark it’s a beautiful building but the noise is driving me out after two years of complaining to the HPD almost daily and getting nowhere I am now looking for a home somewhere other than my beautiful one here. I keep being told by the HPD that they’re just passing through so they won’t give them a ticket. Isn’t that the point that they’re passing through and making so much noise? Then they told me I needed to have a picture of the plate to make a complaint.

As a disabled person in a wheelchair I can’t run down and take a picture every time they decide to come by especially on mass groups of 20 or 30. However the other day I was willing in my wheelchair down Kalakaua and a big group came by I stuck up my finger and gave them each a salute of you are crappy people for making so much noise in my home. Within a few minutes as I crossed near a gas station the truth of motorcycles came in and surrounded me and then I suppose the leader a wiry creepy guy started circling close in fact closer and closer circling in till I could feel the heat of the pipes of the sides of his motorcycle on my legs I looked at him and gave him the finger. I am an educated person with a PhD but I find very little relief from the noise they make and I do know that physiologically it’s not good for me but more than that it is ruining my home more and more every year. I have spoke with the government I’ve spoke with whoever could speak with but everybody is silent and in effective when it comes to not only the motorcycle people racing noisy cars down Kalakaua late at night on the weekends. Somehow we need to band together. I would rather stay in my condo then go into buying a home right now especially with the price is so high but I don’t know what else to do. If there’s others of you who live here and feel the way I do please contact me I live at Waikiki Landmark and I would love to do anything I can do to stop this noise pollution that is very bad physiologically for our hearts and our blood pressure as well

Quieter O’ahu link

9/19/2021 12:58:15 pm

Mahalo for your comment. And by the way, if you give the photo to HPD, they then tell you that an officer must personally witness the offense. They will spend hours upon hours running you in circles and not devote 5 minutes to issuing a citation. I don’t know if HPD officers are just derelict in performance of their sworn duty, or just can’t be bothered with supporting the citizens of Honolulu. It’s disgraceful. Here is the link to the Waikiki Neighborhood Board, #9. It has the names and contact information for its members. I’d suggest forwarding your story to them, to be addressed formally to HPD who attends the monthly board meetings. Demand that the neighborhood board hold HPD to account for their inaction and dereliction of duty in protecting the residents of Waikiki from this plague of noise. https://www.honolulu.gov/cms-nco-menu/site-nco-featured/191-site-nco-cat/682-test.html#NB10

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Motorcycle noise in Waikiki

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