Hawaii Police Badge Requirements & Regulations Guide
Complete guide to law enforcement credentials in the Aloha State—the ONLY state with county-based police and NO municipal departments
Hawaii law enforcement is governed by the Law Enforcement Standards Board (LESB). Here’s what makes Hawaii unique: it’s the ONLY state with county-based police departments and NO municipal police. There are no city police departments—Honolulu has no “Honolulu Police Department” separate from the county. Each of Hawaii’s 4 counties has a police department, but NO sheriffs. Hawaii also has no state police—the closest equivalent is the Department of Public Safety’s Sheriff Division. Marine climate requires corrosion-resistant badge materials.
Hawaii is the ONLY U.S. state where ALL law enforcement is county-based with NO municipal police departments. There’s no Honolulu PD separate from Honolulu County—they’re the same agency. Hawaii also has NO elected sheriffs (the Sheriff Division is part of state government) and NO state police. Additionally, Hawaii’s marine climate creates the most aggressive corrosion environment in the nation for badge materials.
Hawaii Law Enforcement Overview
Hawaii’s law enforcement structure is unlike any other state in America. As an island state with a unique governmental history, Hawaii developed a county-based police system that eliminates the traditional distinction between city police and county sheriff.
Each of Hawaii’s four counties has a single police department that provides all law enforcement services for the entire county—including cities within that county. There are no separate city police departments and no elected sheriffs.
The state-level Sheriff Division (part of the Department of Public Safety) handles court security, prisoner transport, and certain state facilities, but is not a traditional elected sheriff’s office.
- ~3,500 sworn law enforcement officers statewide
- 4 county police departments (ONLY type of local law enforcement)
- ZERO municipal police departments (unique in America)
- ZERO elected sheriffs
- State Sheriff Division: ~300 officers
- 40th most populous state with 1.4 million residents
- 4 counties covering 8 major islands
Hawaii’s Unique County-Based System
Understanding Hawaii’s law enforcement requires understanding what DOESN’T exist:
What Hawaii Doesn’t Have
- No municipal police: There’s no Honolulu PD separate from the county—Honolulu Police Department IS the county police
- No elected sheriffs: The Sheriff Division is a state agency, not elected county officials
- No state police: Hawaii has no highway patrol or state troopers
- No star badges: Without sheriffs, Hawaii has no traditional sheriff star badges
Why This System Exists
Hawaii’s county-based system emerged from its unique history as a territory and its island geography. When Hawaii became a state in 1959, it consolidated law enforcement at the county level rather than creating the overlapping jurisdictions common on the mainland.
LESB Certification Requirements
The Law Enforcement Standards Board (LESB) establishes certification requirements for all law enforcement officers in Hawaii.
Basic Training Requirements
Hawaii requires completion of LESB-certified basic training. The curriculum includes:
- Hawaii criminal code and constitutional law
- Patrol procedures and traffic enforcement
- Firearms qualification and defensive tactics
- Criminal investigations
- Emergency vehicle operations
- Crisis intervention and de-escalation
- Water rescue (unique to Hawaii)
- Cultural competency (Native Hawaiian traditions)
Continuing Education
Hawaii officers must complete continuing education to maintain certification, including annual firearms qualification and legal updates.
The Four County Police Departments
Hawaii has exactly four police departments—one for each county:
| Department | County | Officers | Islands Covered | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu Police Dept | Honolulu | ~2,000 | Oahu | ~1 million |
| Hawaii Police Dept | Hawaii (Big Island) | ~500 | Big Island | ~200,000 |
| Maui Police Dept | Maui | ~400 | Maui, Molokai, Lanai | ~165,000 |
| Kauai Police Dept | Kauai | ~130 | Kauai, Niihau | ~73,000 |
Note: Honolulu Police Department is often incorrectly assumed to be a city police department. It’s actually the county police department for the City and County of Honolulu—a consolidated city-county government covering all of Oahu.
Hawaii Badge Traditions
Without sheriffs, Hawaii’s badge landscape is entirely police-style.
Shield Badges Only
All four county police departments use shield-shaped badges. There are no star badges in Hawaiian law enforcement. Common features include:
- Classic shield shape
- County name and “Police” designation
- Hawaiian imagery (volcanoes, waves, tropical elements)
- Badge number for officer identification
State Sheriff Division
The Sheriff Division (not an elected sheriff) handles court security and prisoner transport. Their badges reflect their state agency status rather than traditional sheriff iconography.
Marine Climate Considerations for Hawaii Badges
Hawaii’s marine climate creates the most aggressive corrosion environment in the United States for badge materials.
Salt Air Exposure
Every part of Hawaii experiences constant salt air exposure. Unlike coastal areas on the mainland where you can move inland, Hawaii’s islands mean officers are always near the ocean:
- Constant trade winds carry salt air across all islands
- Humidity levels remain high year-round
- Tropical sun intensifies material degradation
Impact on Badge Materials
Standard badge materials that would last 10+ years on the mainland may show corrosion within 2-3 years in Hawaii. This requires:
- Marine-grade finishes on all badges
- Enhanced plating thickness
- Regular maintenance and inspection
- More frequent replacement cycles
Hawaii’s marine climate demands the highest corrosion resistance:
- Marine-grade finish MANDATORY—standard finishes fail within 2-3 years
- Heavy plating (25+ mils)—provides corrosion barrier
- Hard enamel only—resists tropical humidity
- Stainless steel pins—standard pins corrode quickly
- Plan for replacement—even quality badges need replacement sooner in Hawaii
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Why doesn’t Hawaii have city police departments?
Hawaii’s county-based system evolved from its territorial history and island geography. When Hawaii became a state in 1959, it consolidated law enforcement at the county level. Each county police department serves all areas within that county—including cities. So Honolulu Police Department IS the police for Honolulu city, but it’s organized as a county agency.
❓ Does Hawaii have sheriffs?
Not in the traditional sense. Hawaii has no elected county sheriffs. The Sheriff Division is part of the state Department of Public Safety and handles court security, prisoner transport, and certain state facilities. It’s a state agency, not a county office, and the sheriff is appointed, not elected.
❓ Does Hawaii have state police?
No. Hawaii has no state police or highway patrol. Each county police department handles traffic enforcement on highways within their county. The Sheriff Division handles some state-level functions but is not a state police force.
❓ Why do badges corrode so fast in Hawaii?
Hawaii’s marine climate creates constant salt air exposure across all islands—there’s nowhere to escape it. Combined with high humidity and tropical sun, this creates the most aggressive corrosion environment in the U.S. Badges that would last 10+ years on the mainland may show corrosion within 2-3 years in Hawaii without marine-grade finishes.
- Hawaii is the ONLY state with county-based police and NO municipal departments
- 4 county police departments serve all of Hawaii
- No elected sheriffs—Sheriff Division is a state agency
- No state police or highway patrol
- All badges are shield-style (no star badges)
- Marine climate demands marine-grade badge finishes
- Heavy plating (25+ mils) and stainless steel components essential
The Bottom Line
Hawaii’s law enforcement structure is unique in America—the only state with county-based police and no municipal departments. This creates a simplified badge landscape with just four police departments and no traditional sheriff star badges.
The marine climate presents the most challenging environment for badge durability in the nation. Agencies must specify marine-grade finishes and plan for more frequent replacement than mainland departments.
For more information on badge procurement for Hawaii agencies, see our complete badge procurement guide.