HONOLULU — The Honolulu Police Department says its 223rd recruit class includes 16 women, a department record that exceeds the previous high of 15. The department reported the milestone in a November 6, 2026, release.

Honolulu Police Major Andre Peters made the announcement. The release says Peters announced the record “last night,” placing the announcement on November 5, 2026.

A class record, with graduation still ahead

The record concerns the number of women in one HPD recruit class, not a national record or a completed graduation. The 223rd recruit class is scheduled to graduate in May 2027, according to the department.

Recruiting and the department’s workforce

HPD said the announcement followed its decision to join the nationwide 30×30 Pledge, which focuses on the representation, experiences and well-being of women in policing. The department described itself as the first county police department in Hawaiʻi to join.

Women currently account for 14% of HPD’s sworn officers, the release says. That figure describes the department’s sworn workforce, not the percentage of women in the 223rd recruit class.

“We have outstanding women serving and leading throughout the department, and we’re committed to building on that momentum by creating more opportunities for women to succeed at HPD,” Honolulu Police Chief David Lazar said in the release.

Contextual archive photo: Honolulu Police Department headquarters, photographed February 3, 2012; not the recruit class or the 2026 announcement. Photo: Gillfoto / Wikimedia Commons. License: CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped and resized with a text overlay; this adapted image is also licensed CC BY-SA 3.0. No endorsement implied.

Source

Honolulu Police Department: HPD Announces Record Number of Female Recruits in Department History.