Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
Read the story: civilbeat.org/2026/02/waikiki-new-era-police-surveillance-drones
If you see a drone hovering above the streets of Waikīkī in March, don’t assume it belongs to an unwitting visitor. It may be the eyes of the state Department of Law Enforcement.
Officials are looking to roll out a major drone surveillance program, marking the first time in Hawaiʻi where drones would be used as first responders.
All this comes as HPD grapples with critical vacancies and law enforcement agencies across the nation increasingly turn to drones, to the chagrin of privacy advocates and watchdog groups.
Read the story: civilbeat.org/2026/02/waikiki-new-era-police-surveillance-drones
If you see a drone hovering above the streets of Waikīkī in March, don’t assume it belongs to an unwitting visitor. It may be the eyes of the state Department of Law Enforcement.
Officials are looking to roll out a major drone surveillance program, marking the first time in Hawaiʻi where drones would be used as first responders.
All this comes as HPD grapples with critical vacancies and law enforcement agencies across the nation increasingly turn to drones, to the chagrin of privacy advocates and watchdog groups.
