Police in Honolulu say officers shut down a suspected gambling room in Wahiawa after serving a search warrant that uncovered machines and cash inside the property. Investigators moved in on the location along Mala Street on Wednesday (March 11), after building a case that the site was being used for illegal gaming. When officers searched the room, they found several machines set up for play along with thousands of dollars in suspected gambling proceeds.
According to a Honolulu Police Department Facebook post, the search was carried out by the department’s Narcotics and Vice Division, working alongside the District 2 Crime Reduction Unit and the Specialized Services Division.
HPD Shuts Down Illegal Gambling Operation on Mala Street in WahiawāHonolulu Police Department officers executed a search warrant at an illegal gambling establishment on Wednesday, March 11, resulting in the seizure of multiple gaming machines and cash. The Narcotics/Vice… pic.twitter.com/ghmBCFhEKQ
— Honolulu Police (@honolulupolice) March 12, 2026
During the operation, officers removed ten gambling machines and seized more than five thousand dollars in cash that investigators believe was tied to the games running at the location.
Wider Honolulu police crackdown on illegal gambling amid Wahiawa raid
Police say the Wahiawa case fits into a larger pattern they have been targeting across Oʻahu. Small backroom gambling spots have continued to appear in neighborhoods, sometimes hidden inside residences or small storefronts. Investigators say the rooms often rely on electronic gaming machines and operate quietly until complaints or surveillance lead officers to step in…