Honolulu Cops Clean Out Waimakua Place Gambling Den, Haul Cash, Drugs and 18 Machines

Honolulu police shut down what they say was an illegal game room on Waimakua Place on Tuesday evening, carting out a bank of gaming machines, suspected narcotics and thousands of dollars in cash. Officers documented the scene, photographed the haul and turned everything over to evidence as part of a months-long effort by HPD to dismantle back-room gambling operations across Oʻahu.

In a post on X from the Honolulu Police Department, officials said the Narcotics/Vice Division’s Gambling Detail, with help from the District 2 Crime Reduction Unit, the Major Events Division and the Specialized Services Division, served a search warrant at about 5 p.m. Investigators seized 18 gambling machines, illegal drugs and more than $11,000 in cash, and shared photos of the items booked into evidence.

What Officers Took Out Of The Game Room

Police photos from inside the bust show rows of arcade-style gambling machines, plastic evidence bags and bundles of cash laid out for cataloging. The numbers look familiar. On May 19, during a McCully raid, HPD’s Gambling Detail also confiscated 18 machines and more than $11,000, a reminder of how sizable these underground rooms can be when they are finally hit by police. As detailed by the Honolulu Police Department, similar enforcement actions have been rolled out across the island through the spring.

What The Law Says About Illegal Gambling Rooms

Running, hosting or cashing in on an illegal gambling setup is not a slap-on-the-wrist offense in Hawaii. State law treats promoting gambling and owning or operating gambling devices as criminal acts, with penalties that ramp up depending on the size and scope of the operation. Offenses such as promoting gambling in the second degree and possession of gambling devices are among the charges investigators often consider in these kinds of cases. For the exact language and penalties, see Hawaii’s gambling statutes on Justia.

How To Report Game Rooms And What Happens Next

HPD is asking anyone who knows about illegal gambling rooms or related activity to call the Narcotics/Vice 24-hour hotline at 808-723-3933 or file a tip through the department’s online form. Officials say the broader crackdown is aimed at cutting off crime that can spring up around these operations and keeping it from getting a foothold in residential neighborhoods. Maj. Jerome Pacarro has previously said the intent is to keep “criminal elements” from settling into communities, and local outlets have repeatedly tracked the stepped-up enforcement. For context on recent raids and the hotline, see Hawaii News Now.

In its latest post, HPD shared photos and a brief rundown of the Waimakua Place raid but did not say whether anyone had been arrested or charged at the time of publication. The department says it will keep pursuing illegal gambling rooms that affect public safety and plans to share further updates on its social media channels as the investigation continues.