Waianae Police Raid Illegal Gambling Venue, Arrest One and Seize Cash, Drugs, and Gambling Machines

The Honolulu Police Department (HPD) continues its crackdown on illegal gambling in Waianae with a recent raid on a suspected gambling venue near Farrington Highway.

On July 8, 2025, at approximately 6:30 PM, HPD officers executed a search warrant and discovered 20 gambling machines, $3,615 in cash, and illicit drugs inside a small, air-conditioned room equipped with CCTV surveillance. The homemade gambling devices included flat-screen TVs with buttons drilled into cabinets.

A 29-year-old male was arrested on-site and now faces charges related to promoting gambling and possession of gambling devices. It remains unclear if others are involved in the operation.

This raid comes amid a slight uptick in gambling-related crimes in Hawaii. Between July 10, 2024, and July 9, 2025, HPD recorded 118 gambling-related offenses, up from 110 in the previous year.

Recent legislative efforts in Hawaii, with three new bills signed into law in mid-June, aim to strengthen the fight against illegal gambling across the state.