Deadly shooting in Waikiki: Hawaii Tourists feel uncomfortable

It’s where visitors find male and transvestite prostitutes, working along with other prostitutes. This alley is a place Waikiki drug dealers prefer.

What happened in this alley over many years had been the downfall for many youth in this tourism island paradise.

The alley was also the home of Fusion, a known LGBT dance bar, that closed several months ago. It shows the attitude by Hawaii Tourism Planners to push LGBT Tourism into some dark uncontrolled side corners.

It happened on the corner of Seaside Avenue and Kuhio Avenue, across from a brand new tourist complex, the trendy Hyatt Centric Hotel, and Marine Surf Hotel. The result one dead, two injured.

It would be very much in the interest for these luxury establishments to help and re-build this entertainment corner into a friendly accessible venue for locals and tourists and perhaps focus on attracting LGBT travelers.

Of course Waikiki is not Chicago, but it’s a place people come to on vacation and want to relax and don’t want to worry about violence and crime.

The murder involved a local conflict and was not a tourism issue, and no tourist was hurt, but it was a shooting in the heart of Waikiki, and it happened at a corner that had been abandoned by authorities, city planners and the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

Gone are the days when the “Kuhio District” was a fun and active party place, specifically for the LGBT visitor and community. Unfortunately, there is not much left, except some of these dark alleys, across from luxury stores and restaurants. What happened here last weekend was about to happen, and it shows the underworld in Waikiki that also

What happened here last weekend was about to happen, and it shows the underworld in Waikiki remains active, becomes more violent and is looking for abandoned places like this.

The Honolulu Medical Examiner released the name of the Waikiki murder victim.  He was identified as 22-year-old Maleko Remlinger of Kaneohe.

Honolulu police arrested three men at a Young Street apartment building Sunday evening.

The suspect has been identified as 18-year-old Jordan Smith. He has not yet been charged.

The incident happened just before 6 a.m on Saturday. in an alley near the intersection of Seaside and Kuhio Avenue. Police say the male suspect entered the alley and fired multiple shots at a group of people standing outside of Club Alley Cat. The suspect fired 10-to-15 shots with what appeared to be a rifle.

According to HPD, a 22-year old male died from critical injuries, two other men ages 27 and 31 were taken to the trauma center in serious condition.
The suspect fled the scene– police described him as a dark-skinned male with dreadlocks.

A witness told local media:
Those who live in the area, where Saturday’s deadly shooting happened, say it was only a matter of time.

“This street right here always been a haven for people of demise,” resident, Arthur Witherspoon said. “At night it turns into a haven of anything negative you ever want to see.”

Visitors in Waikiki had been on high alert every since.
A shooting is something visitors say they didn’t expect to see or hear about on their vacation.

But it’s not just visitors who are worried. Kay Hui, the manager of Seaside Bar and Grill, the restaurant right next to where Saturday’s shooting happened, told local media although he’s seen rowdy behavior in this area before, the shooting makes him want to ramp up on security.

This is the first time Hui says he’s ever heard of a shooting in the area.