WAIANAE, Hawaii (KHON2) -- West Oahu residents told KHON2 that they are sick and tired of the violence and hope attention on the latest shootings will bring change.
KHON2 spoke to community leaders and mental health experts about the recent incidents.
A Waianae Neighborhood Board member said no one person or entity is to blame for the recent shootings after a 15-year-old and 19-year-old were shot on the night of Thursday, Aug. 15.
"Accountability has to be shared between our system, our lawmakers and our parents and our community," Chris Muraoka said. "The blame game is easy, we need to look inside ourselves. What can we do as a parent, number one? What can we do as a community, number two?"
Honolulu police chief Joe Logan said on Wednesday that the community needs to step up and speak out against perpetrators, but residents said sometimes it is not that easy.
"People are afraid of retaliation. If they see something and they say something, they're asked to go on a stand. People have lives, families," Muraoka said. "They're afraid!"
Doctors said that communication and open dialogue from parents is critical, in addition to the mental health resources from the Hawaii Department of Education.
"'I hear you, I see you, what you're feeling is real, this is scary, this was scary,'" said Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center senior behavioral health clinical director Dr. Donald Simpson said. "But also follow it up with why we feel safe and what are we doing to make ourselves and our community safer."
Muraoka added that parents need to set a good example and provide options for West Oahu's keiki in order to benefit all Waianae Coast residents.
"We need to to get these kids more actively involved in community organizations, whether it be surfing, canoes, football, basketball, baseball, whatever it is, We just need to keep them more engaged," he said. "It's not so much controlling their life as much as letting them know you're a part of their life."
The Department of Education is offering trauma support to all West Oahu schools, WCCHC also has child, adolescent and adult psychiatrists available.
A gun violence awareness sign waving event is planned for 9 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 17 at Nanakuli Beach Park.