A Universe of Pure Imagination
TM
Street Gangs of Hawai'i
Street Gangs of Hawai'i
Street Gangs of Hawai'i
Street Gangs of Hawai'i
In Hawaiʻi, numerous independent street gangs operate throughout the islands, each maintaining its own territory, leadership, criminal specialties, and relationships with other organizations.
Within the Major Deej Universe, a Street Gang is a smaller criminal organization comprising fewer than 50 active members. Organizations with 50 or more active members are classified separately under the MDU's larger Gangs category.
The following twelve fictional street gangs operate across Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi Island, Kauaʻi, and Maui. These organizations and their characters are original MDU creations and are not intended to represent, identify, or imply affiliation with any real-world criminal organization.
Aka Mirrors
Leader: Cassandra "Glimmer" Reyes
Island: Maui
Number of Members: 22
Territory: Kīhei, Wailea, selected upscale hospitality businesses, resort-service corridors and luxury commercial locations
Allies: The Aumoe Court (Oʻahu, selective financial arrangements)
Enemies: The Aumoe Court (commercial competition); The Yardlights (occasional disputes)
Weapons of Choice: Concealable pistols, compact knives, collapsible batons and discreet personal-defense weapons
Brief Description: The Aka Mirrors is a sophisticated criminal street gang specializing in luxury merchandise fraud, stolen jewelry, fraudulent resort-related services, underground high-stakes gambling and illicit financial brokerage.
Cassandra "Glimmer" Reyes leads the organization through charm, calculated intimidation and carefully managed business relationships. Members cultivate connections with dishonest intermediaries and individuals willing to participate in profitable fraudulent transactions.
Unlike Maui's Yardlights, the Aka Mirrors have little interest in industrial equipment or freight operations. Their criminal success depends on maintaining a convincing public image of wealth and legitimacy while concealing illegal business arrangements.
The gang maintains a complicated relationship with Oʻahu's Aumoe Court. Both organizations occasionally cooperate on financial transactions, yet frequently compete for wealthy customers, stolen luxury goods and the same criminal intermediaries.
Reyes considers Leilani Navarro a potentially valuable business partner but also a serious rival whose influence could eventually threaten the Aka Mirrors' independence.
Although the organization presents a polished exterior, its criminal activities remain rooted in fraud, intimidation, theft and underground financial exploitation.
Aumoe Court
Leader: Leilani "Silk" Navarro
Island: Oahu
Number of Members: 26
Territory: Waikīkī, Ala Moana, selected upscale entertainment establishments, hospitality businesses and nightlife corridors
Allies: The Aka Mirrors (selective financial arrangements); Ka Puka Jade (commercial transactions); independent luxury-merchandise brokers
Enemies: The Concrete Palms; The Aka Mirrors (competitive business rivalry)
Weapons of Choice: Concealable pistols, compact knives, collapsible batons and discreet personal-defense weapons
Brief Description: The Aumoe Court is an upscale criminal street gang operating within Oʻahu's nightlife, luxury tourism and entertainment economy. Its leader, Leilani "Silk" Navarro, uses social connections, financial manipulation and discreet intimidation to profit from affluent visitors, dishonest business associates and underground commercial transactions.
The Court specializes in luxury merchandise theft, blackmail, fraudulent hospitality services, illegal gambling and the resale of valuable stolen goods. Navarro manages the organization as an exclusive social network, maintaining relationships with dishonest promoters, nightlife employees and individuals willing to exchange confidential information for money.
Its occasional cooperation with Maui's Aka Mirrors creates profitable opportunities, but both organizations compete for wealthy customers and criminal intermediaries. The Court also maintains selective financial dealings with Ka Puka Jade, whose Chinatown gambling and illicit lending contacts provide access to different criminal markets.
The Concrete Palms remain the Court's principal local enemy. Jonah Akana's aggressive street-level operations threaten the financial stability and discretion Navarro depends upon.
Although its members frequently display wealth and fashionable clothing, the Aumoe Court is a criminal organization whose influence depends on manipulation and coercion rather than legitimate commercial success.
The Concrete Palms
Leader: Jonah "Slab" Akana
Island: Oahu
Number of Members: 41
Territory: Selected Kalihi and Iwilei street corridors, neighborhood commercial areas, industrial-adjacent properties and vehicle-related criminal meeting locations
Allies: The Silt Marks (Hawaiʻi Island); independent neighborhood fences and stolen-property buyers
Enemies: The Aumoe Court; The Scuttled; Ka Puka Jade; Nā Koa Leiomano
Weapons of Choice: Pistols, compact shotguns, knives, reinforced clubs and improvised street weapons
Brief Description: The Concrete Palms is Oʻahu's largest street gang by active membership, operating through several loosely coordinated neighborhood crews involved in territorial extortion, robbery, stolen vehicles, illegal betting and localized criminal enforcement.
Jonah "Slab" Akana maintains authority through personal loyalty, intimidation and a willingness to confront rivals directly. His reputation for physical aggression has helped the organization establish influence in selected commercial and industrial-adjacent areas of Honolulu.
The gang maintains criminal merchandise relationships with the Silt Marks on Hawaiʻi Island, allowing stolen goods and equipment to reach additional buyers. However, its confrontational methods frequently generate disputes with other Oʻahu organizations.
The Aumoe Court's financial influence frustrates Akana's attempts to access more profitable criminal markets, while Ka Puka Jade's underground gambling and lending operations represent competing sources of revenue.
The newly established Nā Koa Leiomano is an especially dangerous territorial rival. Both organizations favor visible intimidation, coercion and physical dominance, creating recurring confrontations over protection payments and commercial influence.
Despite its intimidating reputation, the Concrete Palms remains a neighborhood-based street gang rather than a citywide criminal syndicate.
Ka Puka Jade (The Jade Gate)
Leader: Damon "Red Dragon" Leong
Island: Oahu
Number of Members: 27
Territory: Selected Honolulu Chinatown commercial corridors, Downtown Honolulu businesses and criminal contacts near Honolulu Harbor
Allies: The Scuttled (occasional contraband transactions); The Aumoe Court (select commercial arrangements); Nā Koa Leiomano (occasional enforcement services)
Enemies: The Concrete Palms; independent criminal organizations competing for illicit gambling and lending revenue
Weapons of Choice: Compact pistols, butterfly knives, heavy batons, brass knuckles and Chinese-style fighting knives
Brief Description: Ka Puka Jade, commonly known as the Jade Gate, is an organized and territorial street gang operating within selected commercial corridors of Honolulu's Chinatown and Downtown districts. The organization specializes in illegal gambling, predatory lending, commercial extortion, stolen merchandise fencing and black-market transactions involving imported electronics and luxury goods.
Its leader, Damon "Red Dragon" Leong, is a calculating Chinese-Hawaiian criminal entrepreneur who built his influence through underground gambling, financial pressure and carefully managed intimidation. Leong rewards loyalty and profitable operations but responds harshly to betrayal.
The Jade Gate presents itself as an exclusive brotherhood devoted to prosperity, loyalty and mutual protection. In reality, its hierarchy exists to enrich its leadership while maintaining control over selected illicit commercial relationships.
Leong maintains occasional criminal dealings with the Scuttled and Aumoe Court. The gang also purchases intimidation and enforcement services from Nā Koa Leiomano when commercially advantageous, although Leong distrusts its aggressive leadership.
The Concrete Palms remain the Jade Gate's principal enemy. Jonah Akana resents Leong's financial influence, while Leong considers the Concrete Palms unpredictable and excessively violent.
Despite its elaborate identity and visible wealth, Ka Puka Jade remains a 27-member street gang rather than a major organized-crime syndicate.
Kōʻā Crew
Leader: Russell "Dust" Haneda
Island: Hawai'i (Big Island)
Number of Members: 25
Territory: Kailua-Kona, selected West Hawaiʻi contractor yards, equipment-storage properties and commercial service corridors
Allies: The Red Canopy (Kauaʻi); independent stolen-equipment buyers and criminal resale contacts
Enemies: The Silt Marks (occasional trade disputes); independent equipment-theft competitors
Weapons of Choice: Compact pistols, knives, metal batons, shotguns and heavy utility tools
Brief Description: The Kōʻā Crew is a mobile criminal street gang operating along the drier western side of Hawaiʻi Island. Its principal activities involve stolen vehicles, construction-equipment theft, fraudulent contractor arrangements and illegal resale of commercially valuable machinery.
Russell "Dust" Haneda, a former commercial service contractor, understands how valuable equipment moves through legitimate business relationships. He has built a small criminal network of dishonest buyers, independent intermediaries and experienced equipment handlers.
Unlike the Silt Marks, whose operations involve agricultural freight and regional distribution, the Kōʻā Crew focuses primarily on vehicles, construction machinery and contractor-related fraud.
Its business relationship with Kauaʻi's Red Canopy allows stolen equipment to reach additional criminal buyers through limited interisland arrangements.
Haneda generally discourages unnecessary confrontation, but his members have a reputation for retaliating aggressively when criminal associates betray them or interfere with profitable transactions.
The gang's influence comes from practical experience, mobility and commercial contacts rather than widespread territorial intimidation.
Lehu Circle
Leader: Kanoa "Cinder" Kahele
Island: Hawai'i (Big Island)
Number of Members: 17
Territory: Selected Puna communities, remote volcanic terrain, abandoned structures and isolated private properties
Allies: No formal gang alliances; occasional independent supernatural-artifact brokers
Enemies: The Silt Marks; criminal collectors seeking the Hollow Ember
Weapons of Choice: Knives, pistols, clubs, volcanic-glass blades and limited supernatural abilities associated with the Hollow Ember
Brief Description: The Lehu Circle is a small but unusually dangerous street gang operating within the volcanic landscape of Hawaiʻi Island. Led by Kanoa "Cinder" Kahele, the gang combines conventional theft, extortion and illegal artifact trading with limited supernatural capabilities.
The organization began as a loose association of criminals involved in stolen merchandise, intimidation and the illicit trade of unusual objects. Its transformation occurred when Kahele acquired a mysterious black volcanic-glass artifact known as the Hollow Ember.
The artifact grants Kahele the ability to produce small ember-like effects, perceive certain supernatural disturbances and induce brief episodes of dread in nearby individuals. These abilities have given the gang a frightening reputation among criminal competitors.
Kahele believes the object represents a connection to ancient forces associated with Hawaiʻi's volcanic landscape. However, the artifact's true origin remains unknown, and Kahele's interpretation of its power may be dangerously mistaken.
The Lehu Circle's primary enemy is the Silt Marks, whose members have experienced escalating intimidation and unexplained incidents following disputes involving stolen merchandise.
The gang has no legitimate religious or spiritual authority. Its supernatural powers exist within the fictional MDU setting and do not represent traditional Hawaiian religious practice.
MDU Continuity Note: The Hollow Ember's origins remain unknown. A possible connection to the supernatural conflicts involving Pele, Hiʻiaka, Milu, or the Kaha Koa has not been confirmed.
Nā Koa Leiomano
Leader: Kaleo "Leiomano" Kahananui
Island: Oahu
Number of Members: 33
Territory: Selected commercial corridors in Waipahu, ʻEwa and Kapolei; neighborhood business strips, garages, markets and light-industrial properties
Allies: Ka Puka Jade (occasional enforcement-for-hire arrangements); independent fences and extortion associates
Enemies: The Concrete Palms; The Scuttled; independent businesses and criminal competitors resisting extortion
Weapons of Choice: Custom koa-wood shark-tooth-edged clubs and short swords, leiomano-style weapons, short spears, heavy batons, machetes and concealed pistols
Brief Description: Nā Koa Leiomano is one of Oʻahu's most violent and physically intimidating street gangs, operating primarily within selected commercial areas of West Oʻahu. Its criminal activities center on territorial extortion, violent debt collection, protection rackets and intimidation of small businesses.
The gang's leader, Kaleo "Leiomano" Kahananui, is a powerfully built Hawaiian man who has cultivated an intimidating public image combining modern street-gang authority with selectively adopted Hawaiian warrior aesthetics.
Kahananui believes fear is more profitable than subtlety. His members frequently demand protection payments from businesses while threatening vandalism, theft and physical violence against those who refuse.
The gang is particularly recognizable for its customized wooden weapons inspired by historical Hawaiian shark-tooth clubs. These weapons function as intimidation symbols as much as fighting implements.
Nā Koa Leiomano occasionally provides criminal enforcement services to Ka Puka Jade, although its aggressive behavior makes sustained cooperation difficult.
Its principal rival is the Concrete Palms, whose territorial ambitions increasingly overlap with Kahananui's own protection rackets. The Scuttled is another recurring enemy, particularly when extortion targets involve transport businesses or industrial operations in western Oʻahu.
The gang's claimed warrior identity is a criminal appropriation of historical imagery, not evidence of cultural, religious or traditional authority.
Nalu Runners
Leader: Keoni "Riptail" Matsuda
Island: Oahu
Number of Members: 21
Territory: Haleʻiwa, selected North Shore recreation businesses, coastal commercial corridors and visitor-related vehicle locations
Allies: The Red Canopy (Kauaʻi, occasional equipment resale arrangements)
Enemies: The Scuttled; independent coastal theft crews and criminal competitors
Weapons of Choice: Utility knives, collapsible batons, compact pistols and improvised coastal-work tools
Brief Description: The Nalu Runners is a mobile criminal street gang operating within Oʻahu's North Shore recreation and visitor economy. Its principal activities include theft of valuable surfing equipment, marine recreation gear, vehicles and commercially valuable outdoor merchandise.
Keoni "Riptail" Matsuda leads a loose but loyal group of adults familiar with coastal businesses, surf culture and informal resale markets. Rather than maintaining a permanent territorial stronghold, the Nalu Runners move between smaller commercial locations and criminal contacts.
The gang occasionally conducts business with Kauaʻi's Red Canopy, particularly when stolen recreation equipment can be resold through independent intermediaries.
Their primary rivalry involves the Scuttled. Matsuda considers the disgraced former sailors arrogant outsiders attempting to dominate criminal opportunities along Oʻahu's maritime economy. The Scuttled, in turn, regard the Nalu Runners as undisciplined and unreliable.
Although capable of violence, Matsuda generally avoids prolonged gang conflicts that would threaten the organization's mobility and commercial relationships.
Red Canopy
Leader: Malia "Redleaf" Sato
Island: Kaua'i
Number of Members: 18
Territory: Līhuʻe, Kapaʻa, selected rental-equipment businesses, commercial storage locations and criminal contacts around Nāwiliwili
Allies: The Kōʻā Crew (Hawaiʻi Island); The Nalu Runners (Oʻahu, occasional arrangements)
Enemies: Independent criminal competitors; no established formal rival street gang based on Kauaʻi
Weapons of Choice: Compact pistols, folding knives, collapsible batons and improvised utility weapons
Brief Description: The Red Canopy is a small criminal street gang specializing in rental-equipment theft, stolen visitor vehicles, property fraud, illicit merchandise resale and small-scale criminal brokerage on Kauaʻi.
Malia "Redleaf" Sato leads the organization through personal loyalty, commercial relationships and a preference for avoiding conspicuous criminal activity.
Rather than attempting to dominate entire neighborhoods, the Red Canopy operates across selected commercial locations, exploiting its members' familiarity with local businesses, rental-equipment markets and independent resale contacts.
Sato maintains occasional criminal arrangements with the Kōʻā Crew on Hawaiʻi Island and the Nalu Runners on Oʻahu. These relationships provide potential buyers for stolen equipment but do not constitute formal interisland gang membership or shared leadership.
The organization has no established rival street gang permanently based on Kauaʻi, although it frequently competes with independent thieves and criminal intermediaries.
With only 18 active members, the Red Canopy must carefully balance profitable opportunities against the danger of attracting attention from law enforcement or larger criminal organizations.
Silt Marks
Leader: Teresa "Monsoon" Ibarra
Island: Hawai'i (Big Island)
Number of Members: 29
Territory: Hilo commercial districts, agricultural transport corridors, produce-loading areas and selected freight-related properties
Allies: The Concrete Palms (Oʻahu); independent criminal merchandise buyers and freight intermediaries
Enemies: The Lehu Circle; The Kōʻā Crew (limited commercial rivalry)
Weapons of Choice: Pistols, utility knives, heavy batons, shotguns and improvised warehouse tools
Brief Description: The Silt Marks is a commercially oriented street gang specializing in agricultural shipment diversion, stolen equipment, produce theft, illicit freight transactions and the resale of improperly acquired merchandise.
Teresa "Monsoon" Ibarra established the organization through relationships with dishonest freight contractors, agricultural merchandise buyers and individuals familiar with East Hawaiʻi's commercial distribution economy.
Ibarra is a pragmatic leader who prioritizes profitable criminal transactions over territorial expansion. Her members operate through scattered contacts rather than maintaining an obvious neighborhood stronghold.
The gang maintains business relationships with Oʻahu's Concrete Palms, creating additional markets for stolen merchandise and equipment.
Its most troubling enemy is the Lehu Circle. Ibarra initially dismissed stories of supernatural intimidation as exaggerated criminal rumors, but a series of unexplained incidents has made her increasingly cautious about Kahele and his followers.
The Silt Marks also competes periodically with the Kōʻā Crew over equipment and illicit resale opportunities, although neither organization benefits from prolonged conflict.
The Scuttled
Leader: Nathaniel "Dead Reckoning" Cross
Island: Oahu
Number of Members: 23
Territory: Oahu, Hawai'i - Pearl City, ʻAiea, selected civilian waterfront facilities and industrial corridors around Honolulu
Allies: The Yardlights (Maui); Ka Puka Jade (occasional contraband transactions); independent marine-equipment fences
Enemies: The Concrete Palms; Nā Koa Leiomano; The Nalu Runners (periodic disputes)
Weapons of Choice: Compact pistols, shotguns, utility knives, heavy batons and improvised maritime tools
Brief Description: The Scuttled is a criminal street gang composed entirely of former United States Navy sailors who received dishonorable discharges following serious military misconduct. Led by Nathaniel "Dead Reckoning" Cross, the organization combines former naval experience, resentment toward military authority, and an extensive understanding of civilian maritime operations.
Cross, formerly a senior enlisted sailor, assembled the gang from disgraced veterans who remained in Hawaiʻi or returned after their separation from the service. Originally a loosely connected mutual-support network, the organization evolved into an enterprise specializing in marine-equipment theft, stolen technical goods, illicit transport contracting, and waterfront intimidation.
The Scuttled maintains a comparatively disciplined hierarchy, although its members' volatile personalities frequently challenge Cross's authority. Its criminal business arrangements with Maui's Yardlights and Oʻahu's Ka Puka Jade generate revenue through stolen machinery, equipment and merchandise.
The gang maintains hostile relations with the Concrete Palms and Nā Koa Leiomano, both of whom threaten its criminal interests in western and urban Oʻahu. It also clashes periodically with the Nalu Runners over marine-related theft opportunities.
Despite their military backgrounds, the Scuttled have no legitimate military authority, official affiliation, or automatic access to U.S. Navy facilities.
Yardlights
Leader: Felix "Switch" Carvalho
Island: Maui
Number of Members: 31
Territory: Kahului and Wailuku commercial-industrial corridors, warehouses, equipment yards and freight-related properties
Allies: The Scuttled (Oʻahu); independent industrial merchandise brokers
Enemies: The Aka Mirrors (occasional commercial conflicts); competing independent freight-theft crews
Weapons of Choice: Pistols, shotguns, heavy batons, industrial utility knives and improvised worksite tools
Brief Description: The Yardlights is a working-class street gang involved in commercial freight theft, stolen warehouse merchandise, construction-equipment crime, illicit industrial brokerage and illegal equipment resale.
Felix "Switch" Carvalho, formerly employed in commercial equipment maintenance, built the organization around individuals with practical knowledge of transportation, mechanical equipment, warehousing and industrial operations.
Carvalho manages the gang through small crews assigned to different criminal activities. Although members occasionally use intimidation and violence, the organization's primary strength is its ability to acquire and distribute stolen industrial property.
The Yardlights maintains a profitable criminal relationship with the Scuttled on Oʻahu. Both organizations have interests in valuable marine and industrial equipment, although Carvalho's members lack the former sailors' military background.
Its relationship with Maui's Aka Mirrors is considerably less cooperative. The two organizations sometimes dispute stolen merchandise and illicit financial arrangements, although their principal criminal markets remain distinct.
The Yardlights operates within selected commercial areas rather than controlling Maui's legitimate ports, airports or industrial economy.