Honolulu police hit an alleged illegal gambling-style game room on Kawaiahaʻo Street in Kakaʻako with a search warrant Thursday, walking out with a bank of electronic machines and thousands of dollars in cash. Investigators said officers booked 19 gaming machines into evidence and counted more than $7,000, describing the bust as part of an ongoing island-wide effort to shut down underground game rooms.
Inside The Kakaʻako Raid
According to Hawaii News Now, officers with the Narcotics/Vice Gambling Detail, backed up by the District 1 Crime Reduction Unit, the Forfeiture Detail and the Specialized Services Division, executed the warrant at the Kawaiahaʻo Street spot. Investigators photographed and booked 19 gaming machines into evidence and said they recovered more than $7,000 in cash. Police did not immediately announce any arrests or charges in the department post about the operation.
Part Of A Wider Crackdown
Maj. Jerome Pacarro said Thursday's action was the 19th illegal-gambling search warrant served so far in 2026 and the third this month, a tally the department points to as proof of a stepped-up enforcement push. In a post on Facebook, the Honolulu Police Department shared photos of the seized machines and cash from the scene and laid out its rundown of the case. The raid follows similar hits earlier this spring, including a June 10 Waimakua Place operation that yielded 18 machines and more than $11,000, according to cash, drugs and 18 machines.
How To Report Suspected Rooms
To report suspected illegal gambling, HPD asks residents to call the Narcotics/Vice 24-hour hotline at (808) 723-3933 or file a tip through the department's online reporting form, according to Hawaii News Now. State law treats promoting gambling and possessing gambling devices as criminal offenses, including penalties under HRS §712-1222, and seized equipment can be subject to forfeiture, per Justia. Police say the broader enforcement wave is aimed at cutting off criminal activity that can grow around these operations and at protecting surrounding neighborhoods.
