Cameras In Pahoa

Right: Pahoa Town


It’s stories like this that best explain the rationale for installing surveillance cameras in Downtown Pahoa:

“Three years ago, I had the unique experience of visiting the town of Pahoa. At that time, I had heard that the town was seriously deteriorating with crime; that it was infested with drug dealers, and that its citizens were fearful of even being in town. On that day, while still in my business suit, Mitch Roth took me to Pahoa to see the
area. At one point in the middle of town, Mitch pulled the car over when he got a cell phone call. During his conversation, a Pahoa gentleman walked up to my side of the car and offered to sell me drugs. I looked at this gentleman with complete surprise, and asked him to repeat himself. He did. Although totally speechless, I declined his offer, and we then drove off.“

U.S. ATTY. ED KUBO, addressing the Hawaii County Council chambers August 28, 2006



One year after Kubo’s experience, Pahoa became Hawaii’s only Neighbor Island - Federally Designated Weed and Seed site. As part of that program, the community installed cameras in numerous locations to keep a watchful eye over the town. These cameras were funded by the Weed and Seed program at a total cost of $5000. The Weed and Seed program is a community-based strategy sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice. It aims to prevent and control crime in neighborhoods throughout America. With cameras installed, the community should be a much safer place, unless of course . . . they were disconnected?

"The cameras have been disconnected several times," admitted county prosecutor Mitch Roth. The reason he gave was that the power box had to be moved, although many in the community suspect they were vandalized. Even though the cameras have been working on and off, Roth credits them with helping to reduce crime in the area. "The cameras were just one of the many pieces that brought crime down," he said. "There are less fights and drug dealing since they have been put up, but it is the community that is stepping up to prevent crime.”

Youth News traveled to Pahoa to scout out the location of the cameras and gauge public opinion about them. A man who wished to remain anonymous commented that they were a waste of funds and time. “The cameras aren’t after the high-end drug dealers, who are careful enough to avoid cameras,” he said. He also expressed concern for pedestrians who come under surveillance.

It's been about four years since the original cameras were installed, and now it’s time to get new ones, this time funded by the Hawaii Tourism Authority. They have agreed to provide funding for the replacements, which are $25,000, and are scheduled to be installed as early as the beginning of July. The new cameras will have improved coverage. The footage will be processed to a hard-drive. "They will not be monitored all the time", said Roth. "When something happens, we'll look at it.” Cameras will also be installed in areas such as Hilo, Akaka Falls and Kailua-Kona. Hopefully, the new cameras should be up and running in the blink of an eye.