HONOLULU — On Sept. 14, 2026, the Honolulu Police Department (HPD) signed the 30×30 Pledge, becoming the first county police department in Hawaiʻi to join the nationwide initiative focused on advancing the representation, experiences and well-being of women in policing.

By signing the pledge, HPD joins law enforcement agencies across the country and Canada working to identify and address barriers affecting women throughout their careers. Participating agencies examine recruitment, hiring, retention, promotion and workplace practices to better support women, and all employees, throughout their careers.

“Women are serving and leading throughout HPD, and we want to make sure they have the support and opportunities to build successful careers here,” Honolulu Chief of Police David Lazar said. “By joining this network of law enforcement agencies working to support women in policing, we have an opportunity to look closely at our practices, identify where we can improve and continue creating opportunities for women to join our department, grow as officers and advance into leadership roles.”

As part of its participation, HPD will review data, assess policies and practices and identify opportunities to strengthen women’s experiences across recruitment, hiring, retention and advancement. 

Women currently account for 14% of HPD’s sworn officers. Nationally, women make up less than 14% of sworn officers in state and local law enforcement agencies (Bureau of Justice Statistics).

“Recruiting, supporting and retaining women are important parts of our efforts to build a strong and diverse workforce,” Maj. Matthew Kurihara of HPD’s Human Resources Division said. “We will continue looking at where we can strengthen our practices across the career lifecycle.”

HPD’s participation builds on the department’s ongoing efforts to recruit qualified applicants and provide opportunities for employees to develop and advance throughout their careers.

For more information about career opportunities with HPD, visit JoinHonoluluPD.org.

About the 30×30 Initiative

The 30×30 Initiative is a coalition of law enforcement leaders, researchers and professional organizations working to advance the representation, experiences and well-being of women in policing. More than 400 law enforcement agencies across the United States and Canada have participated in the voluntary initiative. The initiative supports agencies in identifying and addressing barriers affecting women throughout their careers, from recruitment and hiring to retention and advancement. Learn more at https://30x30initiative.org/