HONOLULU, HAWAII – JUNE 26: The sun sets on Waikiki Beach on Oahu, Saturday, June 26, 2021 in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
HONOLULU (KHON 2) — Waikiki, known for its surf and sand, is becoming synonymous with another undesirable feature: noise, and residents say the problem is getting worse.
“We have people who like to put aftermarket mufflers on their cars and drive around the street roaring, and we have people who like to set off fireworks out of season,” said Bob Finley, chairman of the Waikiki Neighborhood Commission. “If you look around now, you can see why noise is a problem. Concrete bounces everything off of it.”
“People can’t sleep because of the noise, people can’t enjoy their dinner because of the noise,” Honolulu City Council President Tommy Waters said. “So this is certainly a quality of life issue.”
Several legislative attempts to address noise issues have been made in the past but have failed due to enforcement problems.
As a first step in reducing noise, the neighborhood committee has partnered with the Honolulu Police Department to raise awareness of current noise laws.
“At every Neighborhood Council meeting for the past year, we have complained about the vehicle noise and they have taken steps to mitigate the noise,” Finley added.
“It’s really good that the signs are there and I’m glad people are taking this seriously,” Waters said.
Under current law, violators face fines, ranging from a $72 fine for noisy mufflers to a $100 fine for excessive noise that can be heard from 30 feet away on the road. Noise on beaches and in the streets is also subject to enforcement.
Residents are cautiously optimistic about the state’s recent approval of $2.5 million for a pilot program to use microphone-equipped sound-detecting cameras to crack down on illegal road noise.
“It doesn’t bother me. I love it. There’s always something to do. But I know some older people live in my building. I’m sure it’s a nuisance for them,” Waikiki resident Matt Mayfield said.
The Hawaii Department of Transportation has two years to implement the program, and if it is successful, it could be expanded to other urban areas across the state.