Posted on: Friday, September 24, 2004
Violence against visitors called rare
By Peter Boylan
Advertiser Staff Writer
A spate of violence against tourists in the past six days is highly unusual and does not signal any need for greater concern, police and visitor agencies say.
Police, however, said that violent crimes against tourists are few and far between. And interviews with tourists yesterday show they feel just as safe here as at home.
Lt. Dave Eber, daytime supervisor of the Honolulu Police Department's Waikiki substation, said tourists occasionally get into altercations in bars but usually fall prey to purse snatchers or petty thieves.
"Occasionally, it (violent crime) happens," he said. "Most of the violent crime that occurs in Waikiki, most of it is not directed against tourists."
Despite the attacks, visitors said yesterday that they do not feel any intimidation walking O'ahu's streets.
"I don't feel any tension. I don't see anybody giving us any grief. It's been mellow the whole time," said Randy Jones, a visitor from Sacramento, Calif., who was walking by the Duke Kahanamoku statue.
Niki Coughlin, a 27-year-old human-resources specialist from Denver, said Hawai'i reminds her of Los Angeles and she is as cautious on O'ahu as she is in L.A.
Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser In a news conference yesterday at police headquarters, the Missouri visitor, Dr. Tim Noreuil, spoke calmly about a violent surprise attack at the hands of three young men.
Noreuil said he was walking home from a show at Hula's, a local nightclub, at about 11:15 p.m. Saturday when he was approached by three men walking about 6 feet apart. All of the men made eye contact with him as they passed, he said.
As soon as the third man passed, Noreuil said he was struck from behind on the right side of his face, so hard that he began to black out and see stars while stumbling to the ground. He said he looked at his hand and saw blood dripping down to his elbow.
He said when he looked up, the trio was standing around laughing at him.
Here are some tips to avoid becoming a victim when visiting the Islands: • Don't flash cash, especially large amounts, in public. • Don't leave IDs, driver licenses or passports in any vehicle. • Don't leave personal items on the beach unguarded. Keep them in your hotel room. • Don't leave valuables in the trunk of your rental car while at tourist attractions. • Use all the common sense and caution you would use back home. For more information, contact the Honolulu Police Department at 529-3111. Source: Visitor Aloha Society of Hawai'i "I think they were just out and wanted to hurt somebody," he said.
"I think there is an issue of some resentment toward tourists and visitors," said Noreuil, who underwent emergency surgery at The Queen's Medical Center for 30 fractures to the right side of his face.
Yesterday, police released composite sketches of two of the men.
The city prosecutor's office said the woman from Oklahoma, whose name was not released, was attacked outside a nightclub at 12:45 a.m. yesterday. She is getting assistance from the office and the Visitor Aloha Society of Hawai'i.
The woman had not filed a police report as of yesterday afternoon, and no additional information was available.
Jessica Lani Rich, president and executive director of the Visitor Aloha Society of Hawai'i, said the majority of crimes against tourists are car break-ins and thefts on the beach.
"This week has been a very unusual week for us at VASH because we've seen tourists who were assaulted, more so than in the last couple of weeks," said Rich. "Overall, Hawai'i is a pretty safe place to come and visit absolutely, but people have to use caution as they would anywhere else, because there are bad people in paradise."
VASH came to the aid of the 19-year-old student from Japan who was set on fire, and to Noreuil.
The prosecutor's office also runs a victim's assistance program for visitors.
Despite the attack, Noreuil, who owns a condo in Waikiki, intends to make Hawai'i his permanent home someday.
"I'll definitely come back," he said.
Reach Peter Boylan at 535-8110 or pboylan@honoluluadvertiser.com.
Since Saturday, an anesthesiologist from Missouri had his eye socket and right cheekbone crushed in an attack on Kuhio Avenue, a 19-year-old student from Japan was set on fire in Kailua — allegedly by a 12-year-old boy — and a woman from Oklahoma had her jaw broken across the street from the Waikiki police substation.
Composite sketches of two of the men who attacked Tim Noreuil in Waikiki on Saturday night.
"I feel safe," she said. "It's as safe as you can be."
Dr. Tim Noreuil, a visitor from Missouri, suffered 30 fractures to his face but still intends to make Hawai'i his permanent home someday.
Luckily, a man on a balcony in a nearby apartment building saw the attack unfold and yelled for someone to call the police. Noreuil said the men didn't ask for money and didn't take anything from him.
Staying safe
