The University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu is leading statewide efforts to strengthen threat assessment and violence prevention through education, training and collaboration.
More than 200 school, law enforcement and community professionals gathered for the fourth annual Hawaiʻi Threat Assessment Conference (HTAC), held July 8–10, at the Hawaiʻi Carpenters Training Center. Sessions covered artificial intelligence in violent risk assessment, how to build effective community-based threat assessment teams and more.
UH West Oʻahu founded HTAC and remains its lead partner, helping to build momentum for safer schools and communities across the state. The university’s leadership has attracted major federal support, including a $2 million Bureau of Justice Assistance STOP School Violence Grant in 2024 and a $780,671 Department of Homeland Security grant in 2021.
Chancellor Maenette Benham noted the conference’s growth—nearly tripling from just 77 participants in its first year.
“We have more community-based organizations, 501(c)(3)s, along with representatives from our armed services, and representatives from our local, state and federal government,” Benham said. “This is quite a diverse group, and every single one of you is here because you’re committed to the safety and well-being of our children, our families and our community.”
Mike Lambert, director of the Hawaiʻi Department of Law Enforcement and a 2010 UH West Oʻahu alumnus, stressed the value of prevention and collaboration.
“The best event is the one that didn’t happen,” Lambert said. “The hard part with prevention is that it’s not that attractive… But it’s such an important aspect of public safety. The reality is that once it happens, it’s too late.”
Lambert also encouraged participants to make friends, ask questions and communicate.
He said, “We are a small state. And I guarantee that if someone gets harmed today, somebody in the room knows them.”
—By Leila Wai
