Honolulu County, Hawaii: Police Scanner Guide
Most police and sheriff agencies in Honolulu County have gone encrypted. You can still monitor fire, EMS, weather broadcasts, and any remaining unencrypted channels.
What You Can Still Monitor in Honolulu County
- Fire dispatch — most fire departments stay on open radio even when police go encrypted
- EMS / ambulance dispatch — emergency medical services often remain unencrypted for interoperability
- NOAA Weather Radio — direct NWS broadcasts on 162.400–162.550 MHz
- Public works & utilities — city maintenance, road crews, and utilities typically unencrypted
Recommended Scanners for Honolulu County
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Agencies in Honolulu County
Data from the RadioReference database and direct verification. View all Hawaii agencies →
| Agency | Type | Encryption |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii Healthcare Association | other | P25 AES-256 |
| Honolulu Department of Environmental Management | state | P25 AES-256 |
| Honolulu EMS | ems | P25 AES-256 |
| Honolulu Fire Department | fire | P25 AES-256 |
| Honolulu Ocean Safety Society | other | P25 AES-256 |
| Honolulu Police Department | police | P25 AES-256 |
| Oahu Transit | transit | P25 AES-256 |
| Honolulu Zoo | other | P25 AES-256 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I monitor in Honolulu County, Hawaii?
Most police and sheriff agencies in Honolulu County have gone encrypted. You can still monitor fire, EMS, weather broadcasts, and any remaining unencrypted channels. Check the local fire and EMS frequencies which often remain unencrypted even when police go encrypted.
Is police radio encrypted in Honolulu County?
Yes — 5 out of 8 agencies in Honolulu County use full encryption. An additional 1 use partial encryption. Fire and EMS frequently remain unencrypted.
What scanner do I need for Honolulu County?
For Honolulu County, we recommend a scanner that covers VHF and UHF frequencies for fire, EMS, and weather — the Uniden BC125AT is the best value. For broader exploration, the RTL-SDR V4 with free SDRTrunk software can scan the full spectrum.