How to become a police officer in Hawaii
In Hawaii, police officers are hired by city police departments and county sheriff's offices. The Hawaii Law Enforcement Standards Board (LESB) sets the statewide standards; the credential is Law Enforcement Officer certification (Hawaii LESB, HRS chapter 139; issued beginning July 1, 2028). At the Honolulu Police Department, new hires start at $87,108 a year, rising to $118,680.
Pay at the Honolulu Police Department
Each city and county sets its own pay. This is the official scale of the Honolulu Police Department, the largest city's agency.
| Starting salary | $87,108 |
|---|---|
| Top of scale | $118,680 |
| Scale effective | 2026-07-01 |
Metropolitan Police Officer (MPO) base starting salary $87,108/yr ($7,259/mo; $95,012 with the Standards of Conduct Differential, SOCD) after completing the recruit training and probationary period; automatic step increases per the SHOPO collective bargaining agreement up to a max base of $118,680 ($126,584 with SOCD). Metropolitan Police Recruit (academy, field training and first year): $83,808/yr base ($6,984/mo; $91,712 with SOCD). Extra pay may include night differential, overtime at 1.5x, hazard pay, special duty $50-$85/hr.
Source:[joinhonolulupd.org]
Pay for this work across Hawaii
Federal survey figures for police and sheriff's patrol officers in Hawaii, counting every employer in the state, public and private, so they differ from any one agency's pay scale above.
| People in this work | 2,420 |
|---|---|
| Lower pay (10th percentile) | $77,480 |
| Median pay | $83,820 |
| Higher pay (90th percentile) | $108,110 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state estimates (all employers)[bls.gov]
Requirements
- No statewide minimum hiring standards are in force yet: HRS 139-6, as amended by Act 107 (SLH 2026, signed June 8, 2026), says no person shall be appointed or employed as a law enforcement officer after June 30, 2028 unless the person has completed a board-approved basic training program, has received training to minimize excessive force (legal standards, de-escalation, crisis intervention, mental health response, implicit bias, first aid), and meets board-prescribed qualifications including minimum age, education, physical and mental standards, citizenship, good conduct, moral character and experience
- From July 1, 2028 county police departments may not employ an officer without a valid LESB certification (HRS 139-7 as amended by Act 107)
- Until then each county sets its own standards. Honolulu PD (Metropolitan Police Recruit): age 21, no upper age limit; high school diploma, GED or equivalent; U.S. citizen, U.S. national or lawful permanent resident (federal and state firearm eligibility); valid driver's license; no felony or domestic-violence misdemeanor convictions (https://www.joinhonolulupd.org/minimum-qualifications.html)
Source:[data.capitol.hawaii.gov]
Hiring process
- Online application (City and County of Honolulu, GovernmentJobs)
- Entry level police examination (169 multiple-choice questions, 2 hours, passing score 70)
- Physical Readiness Assessment
- Personal History Statement and fingerprinting
- Background investigation and clarification interview
- Conditional offer of employment
- Polygraph exam
- Psychological exam and interview
- Medical exam
- Final offer of employment
- Police academy (about 6 months), then Field Training and Evaluation Program
Source:[joinhonolulupd.org]
Required training
Length not published. The LESB has not yet adopted a statewide basic training minimum (a May 2025 draft rule proposing 720 hours is not adopted). Honolulu PD's own academy (Ke Kula Maka'i) is 'approximately 6 months', mostly 0630-1515 Monday-Friday, not live-in; recruits are paid at the Metropolitan Police Recruit rate (https://www.joinhonolulupd.org/police-academy.html).[joinhonolulupd.org]
Pension and retirement
- Plan: Employees' Retirement System of the State of Hawaii (ERS), Contributory Class (police officers)
- Benefit formula: 2-1/4% of average final compensation (AFC) for each year of credited service, up to a maximum of 80% of AFC; members contribute 14.2% of salary
- When you can retire: Police officers first hired after June 30, 2012: age 60 with 10 years of credited service, or age 55 with 25 years of credited service, provided the last 5 years of credited service is in a qualified occupation
County police officers are required to be Contributory Class members of the statewide ERS. Honolulu PD's recruiting page lists the same terms (2.25% multiplier, vesting at 10 years). ACFR for fiscal year ended June 30, 2022 (latest plan summary fetched).
Source:[ers.ehawaii.gov]