Neighborhood board presses for restored security after Aina Hainoa Library arrest

Residents at the Kuleo o Kalani Iki Neighborhood Board meeting on Feb. 4 urged the city to restore an on‑site security presence at Aina Hainoa Library after a Jan. 10 incident in which officers arrested a disorderly person.

Lieutenant Nishimura of the Honolulu Police Department, District 7, described the Jan. 10 response: library staff asked a patron to leave after violating library rules, the individual became belligerent, officers were dispatched and ultimately used a Taser before placing the person under arrest. Nishimura said the individual was known to patrol officers and, to his knowledge, had not returned to the immediate area.

Several community members, including a speaker who identified herself as Mary, said the episode was disturbing and pointed out that the library serves children and kupuna who use it as a safe place. They asked the board and officials to reinstate a security officer during operating hours.

Nishimura said having a security guard at the library would be “very beneficial,” but that contracting and funding decisions fall outside patrol‑level authority; he suggested the community forward questions to the library’s administration and to the city via the email address he provided for follow‑up. For immediate concerns, he advised calling 911 and, when possible, requesting to meet with the responding officer so staff can identify recurring individuals and provide more detailed information.

The board noted the library’s friends group and legislative representatives have been in contact with public‑safety offices and that the neighborhood board will continue to raise the issue with state and city offices. No formal board action on library security was recorded at the meeting; the board and representatives said they will pursue follow‑up and report back.