A coordinated enforcement effort is underway to address unlicensed game rooms operating across Oʻahu. A multi-agency task force—comprising the Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP), Honolulu Police Department (HPD), and Honolulu Fire Department (HFD)—has launched Operation Follow Through. The initiative is designed to shut down these establishments using both criminal enforcement and code compliance measures.
The initiative aims to address not only the legal status of these game rooms but also their broader impact on community safety and stability. Through the enforcement of building codes and related regulations, authorities are positioned to take swift action and ensure that closures are sustained. The DPP, working with HPD and HFD, acknowledges the complexity of the issue, which extends beyond illegal gambling to include numerous building and safety code violations commonly found at these locations.
Residents have raised ongoing concerns about safety hazards linked to illegal game rooms, including fire risks from non-compliant electrical systems and the potential presence of criminal activity. This initiative is intended to address and help prevent such risks to public safety and community order. Through coordinated efforts, the DPP, HPD, and HFD aim to systematically eliminate these violations in neighborhoods across Oʻahu and reinforce compliance with local laws and regulations.
Although previous efforts have targeted illegal gambling on the island, Operation Follow Through represents a renewed, coordinated strategy aimed at addressing the issue more effectively. Each participating agency contributes its specific authority and expertise, working together to implement a comprehensive approach that seeks to shut down unlicensed game rooms across Oʻahu.
These joint efforts, as outlined by the Honolulu Police Department, move beyond traditional raids and arrests, creating a comprehensive approach that may effectively discourage and reduce the prevalence of such illegal enterprises. "The goal? A safer, stronger community," reports HPD in their recent operation reveal, emphasizing the holistic objective behind this mission.
