Honolulu is Hawaii’s largest city with a population of over 330,000 residents, and is located on the island of Oahu. Prostitution has been a visible and persistent problem in the city for decades, resulting in complaints to law enforcement. Sex trafficking has also become a growing concern in recent years with numerous adult and child sex trafficking cases being reported, including a case in which a girl with learning disabilities was trafficked and raped by her neighbor. Drugs and child sexual abuse materials have also been connected to the local commercial sex market, and sex buyers have been set up for robberies by individuals posing as offering prostitution. Organizations such as the Pacific Alliance to Stop Slavery (P.A.S.S.) have debated with state lawmakers about reforming existing trafficking laws. In June 2013, the Governor of Hawaii signed four bills related to human trafficking into law. These include Senate Bill 192, which made solicitation of a minor for prostitution a Class C felony, changed the minimum fine for the offense to $2,000, and extended the statute of limitations from two to six years. The bill also required convicted persons to register as sex offenders and subjects their assets to forfeiture. In March 2014, a controversy emerged over state laws that allowed male police officers to engage in sexual contact with prostituted persons as an investigative method. A focus on arresting buyers instead of prostituted persons would eliminate the need to use such questionable tactics.

The Honolulu Police Department has used a wide range of tactics to respond to sex trafficking and prostitution, including several strategies that target commercial sex buyers. The city began conducting reverse stings as early as 1997. Over time, operations expanded to include web stings and identity disclosure. After arrest, courts may also impose SOAP orders on offenders. This requires sex buyers to stay away from areas of the city known for high levels of prostitution activity. There have also been efforts to deter sex buying through public education, the use of surveillance cameras, and neighborhood patrols. Because of the high volume of tourists involved in Hawaii’s commercial sex trade, the Honolulu Police Department contended that auto seizures and “john schools” could not be implemented effectively since many buyers do not own cars locally or would be out of state for any post-arrest programming.