Step-by-Step Hiring Process for the Honolulu Police Department

Mar 4

Written By Temo .

Here’s the step-by-step hiring process for the Honolulu Police Department (HPD) Metropolitan Police Recruit (entry-level)—written in a simple, “what to expect” way.

1) Apply online

You submit your application through the City/HPD job posting system (GovernmentJobs). HPD reviews to make sure you meet the minimum qualifications.

2) Get invited to the HPD Entrance Exam (written test)

If you qualify, you’ll be emailed instructions to self-schedule your entrance exam.

What’s on it (HPD):

Observation & Memory
Written Communication
Reading/Understanding
Reasoning/Analytical Ability
Bio-Data
It’s 169 multiple-choice questions and typically 2 hours.

3) Physical Readiness Assessment (PRA)

If you pass the entrance exam, you’ll be emailed to self-schedule the PRA (there’s a scheduling deadline—usually within about a month of being invited).

PRA events listed on the HPD recruit posting include:

Agility run
300-meter run
24 Push-ups
24 Sit-ups (1 minute)
1.5-mile run

4) Personal History Statement (PHS) + Fingerprinting

After you’re moving forward, you’ll complete an online Personal History Statement (PHS). HPD notes you typically have 10 days to submit it, and you’ll also need to do fingerprinting (by appointment).

5) Background Investigation + Clarification Interview

Your file goes to a background investigator/detective who verifies your info and contacts references, employers, etc. HPD also does a clarification interview as part of the background process.

6) Conditional Offer (if you clear the initial phases)

If everything looks good, you may receive a conditional offer of employment and get scheduled for the remaining evaluations.

7) Final evaluations

HPD’s process (as listed in the recruit job posting) includes:

Polygraph examination
Psychological examination/interview
Medical examination

8) Final job offer + Academy

If you clear everything, you’ll receive your final offer and get assigned a recruit class/academy start date (timing depends on openings and class schedules).

If you want, I can rewrite this into a blog-ready version with friendly headings (and a short FAQ at the end like “How long does it take?” and “What usually holds people up?”).

Temo .