Crime rates show a
drop in Hawaii

Only arson is on the rise

Star-Bulletin staff

Violent and property crimes in Hawaii declined sharply in 1998, according to a federal report.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation's 1998 "Crime in the United States" says violent and property crimes in Hawaii dropped 10.7 and 11 percent, respectively, from 1997 to 1998. Murder and non-negligent manslaughter account for the biggest decrease, at 48.9 percent.

Nationally, the FBI says violent crime declined 6 percent and property crime 5 percent from 1997 to 1998.

The FBI report identifies violent crime as murder, forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault. Burglary, larceny/theft and motor-vehicle theft are listed as property crimes.

Hawaii's numbers reflected a decrease in every category except arson.

In addition to a drop from 47 murder/non-negligent manslaughter cases in 1997 to 24 in 1998, forcible rape in Hawaii was down 5.1 percent (371 reported cases to 352).

There were 1,225 robbery cases, 178 fewer than 1997, or a 12.7 percent drop, and a 9 percent drop in aggravated assaults (1,345 cases from 1,478 cases). Burglary, larceny/theft and motor-vehicle theft declined 12.3 percent, 10.4 percent and 13.5 percent, respectively.

But there were 374 arson cases last year, 72 more than in 1997. Of last year's total, Oahu had 278 arson cases, while the Big Island and Maui each had 47.

The 1998 national figures represent an 11 percent drop from 1994 figures.