And how do you know it has little to do with reality?  Are you everywhere in the state at all times?  Past statistics also only included reported crimes so at least there's consistency there. You're right in that murder is the most reported crime compared to its actual occurrence but the 20.9% increase you speak of is only a one year increase. Murder numbers are still way down from decades past.  Look at the UCI from the 1970s-1990s for Hawaii and look at the total number of murder reported and compare that to the 35 committed in 2016. Also keep in mind our population was less back then.