Police Search for Suspect in Armed Waikiki Carjacking and Crash

A knife, a black Dodge Charger, and a 21-year-old driver ordered out of his vehicle with three younger siblings inside — right before 11 p.m. Monday in a Waikiki hotel loading zone on Kalia Road, KITV reported.

According to the Honolulu Police Department, the suspect used the knife to force the driver and his siblings from the car, then drove the stolen Charger to Kaneohe. There, he collided with another vehicle near the Likelike Highway and Kahekili Highway before fleeing on foot when officers arrived. The occupants of the other vehicle suffered minor injuries.

Witnesses describe the suspect as a male in his 30s, about 5 feet 7 inches tall and 170 pounds, with long black hair. He wore a dark jacket, dark pants, and slippers, and carried a green backpack.

Police search for armed suspect after Waikiki robbery, highway crash

Waikiki Crime Rates Have Fallen Since 2022

The carjacking marks a rare violent incident in an area where officials say crime has dropped sharply. Trevor Abarazua, president and CEO of the Waikiki Improvement Association, which is working closely with HPD on public safety resources, said violent crime and robberies have fallen dramatically since September 2022.

“I do know that if you compare it, since just after COVID till now, 2026, again, we’re seeing a dramatic reduction, especially in the violent crime and the robberies and things that alarm the community,” Abarazua said.

Still, the incident rattled some residents. One Honolulu worker who has driven through the area twice a week for ten years said the attack was unprecedented in his experience.

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“Back from my hotel gig, and in 10 years I’ve never had any trouble, never seen anything crazy like that. That’s 10 years I’ve been doing this twice a week, and it’s not. So, this is kind of surprising,” the resident said.

Another resident noted that while they had heard of attacks on Japanese tourists in central Waikiki, this was the first carjacking they could recall hearing about. Abarazua emphasized that the incident is isolated and rarely happens in the district.

The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call 911 or Crime Stoppers at 808-955-8300.