I find it ironic that most of the time it is the "5-percenters" you have to worry about. I have many Hawaiian friends; even family members and they're some of the friendliest people around.
But case in point...my brother's friend was playing basketball with his friends at a court in a nice neighborhood, not a run-down area. A group of so called Hawaiian guys came to the court demanding my brother's friend and his friends leave because "they owned this court". Rather than just leave they agree to have a basketball game, winner stays, loser leaves. Well the Hawaiian guys lost, got mad and beat up the other guys...then stole their cars while they were on the ground. I'm thankful my brother wasn't there but now he refuses to even go to that court because of that.
Another example though less violent; I was at Wal-Mart last year doing Christmas shopping with my brother and his friend (not the one who got assaulted). It was crowded and I accidentally bumped into a guy who was just standing in the middle of the aisle. I told him sorry and excused myself past him. Lo-and-behold the guy is another "5-percenter". He just seemed to get mad for some reason, he was in the typical "Like scrap?" pose, puffing his chest, eyes wide, staring down. I just kept walking.
I had to vent...I had a talk with a friend, she's Japanese and I wanted her input. She has that myth stuck in her head more guns = more deaths. What upset me most while talking to her was her comment that I can't be prepared for everything, I just have to be careful and take life as it comes. So...if I get mugged or assaulted while jogging or as pointed out above, playing basketball, I'm supposed to just accept the fact I'm going to be physically beaten? Would be worse for women because that would mean just accept the fact you're being raped was the jist of her comment.
I agree that Hawaii is a safe place compared to other states but for those instances when your safety is shaken/put at risk/violated, it changes, sometimes permanently, how you view your island home and paradise.