HPD History - Introduction

From our roots in Hawaiian culture to our  modern equipment and personnel, the Honolulu Police Department is like no other police department in the nation.

There is no state police in Hawaii. Each of the four counties in the state is responsible for its own police force. Honolulu county is the largest in the state and covers the entire island of Oahu.

Hawaii is the only state in the Union that has a royal palace on its soil. Prior to becoming a state and territory of the United States, the Hawaiian Government was a Constitutional Monarchy. The Honolulu Police Department's history can be traced back directly to an Act to Organize the Executive Departments of the Government which was approved by King Kamehameha the Third in 1846. Some local traditions go back even further in Hawaiian history.

The next few pages will tell a little about the background and history of law enforcement in Honolulu. This web version is based on "The Legacy of Kapu Kanawai 1750-2000", initially edited by then Captain Barbara Uphouse Wong and Daryl Jean Aiwohi in the early 90's. It was adapted for the Web by Aaron Correia in the late 90's. Additional information was provided by Pat Oda.