Last year, police officials asked state lawmakers for a legal exemption to allow undercover officers to have sex with prostitutes. That measure failed under intense public pressure.



Honolulu police said the latest arrests were in response to numerous complaints about prostitution activity.



"Sex trafficking is a very serious issue, and the HPD, FBI, and (Homeland Security) work closely to identify victims and to get them the services that they need," HPD said in a statement.



Legal experts said this new approach raises legal questions because a solicitation for sex implies consent.



"It's not a sexual assault. It perverts what the whole statute is about. The sexual assault statute says you can't force me by compulsion to engage in some kind of sexual activity," Lawson said.



"For the sexual assault (charges), I think it does raise questions of entrapment."