Eighteen new deputy sheriffs graduated from Hawaii's Department of Law Enforcement on Sept. 25, marking the largest graduation ceremony the agency has ever held. Most of the recruits are headed straight to two of the state's busiest posts: Honolulu's Daniel K. Inouye International Airport and Hawaii's state courthouses.
The class is the largest since the Department of Law Enforcement became its own separate state agency roughly two years ago, according to Hawaii News Now. The station reports the recruits completed a six-month training program that mixed classroom instruction with hands-on learning, covering law-enforcement rules and procedures, firearms and equipment operation, and physical conditioning.
Among the 18 graduates was a father and son who trained and crossed the stage together: Edgarinio Ugale and his son, Ethan Ugale. Other members of the class included Michael Agpaoa, Frank Ah Tou, Liam Corbett, Logan Kamalani, Criston Kam, Alena Machova, Chander-Ann Malang, Marlon Marquez, Jowayne McKinley, Scott Nguyen, Ryan Parker, Cajun Pedro, Scott Tsuha, Justin Villanueva, Timothy Weber and Samuel Yarbrough Jr., according to Kauai Now.
Where the New Deputies Are Headed
Per Kauai Now, the airport section is picking up five new deputies, while the circuit court gets three and district court gets two. Central patrol adds one new deputy, and Hilo is set to receive three new deputies of its own. Kona and Maui are each getting two new deputies, rounding out the statewide distribution described by the outlet.
That spread lines up with what KHON2 reported separately: most of the graduates will be assigned to protect state courthouses and the Honolulu airport, while the rest of the class includes deputies headed to Hilo, Kona and Maui. The station notes the Department of Law Enforcement currently employs approximately 300 deputy sheriffs, meaning this class adds a meaningful bump to that roster.
Director Praises the Recruits
DLE Director Jared Redulla said the new deputies will take on serious responsibilities right away. “This class will take on a very important job to protect our community,” Redulla said, per KHON2. He also said the class adds 18 new law enforcement officers to the street and that the 18 officers add to community safety, and separately said the department is proud of the new recruits, according to Kauai Now.
The 2026 class's size stands out against recent history. A December 2023 graduation added 14 new deputies to the State Sheriff Division after they completed Law Enforcement Recruit Class 23-01, according to Maui Now. That earlier group trained for six-and-a-half months and logged more than 1,000 hours of academic instruction, with 10 deputies assigned to Oahu patrol sections, three to Hawaii island and one to Kauai, per the same report.
Who Can Apply Next
According to Kauai Now, deputy sheriff applicants must hold a high school diploma or its equivalent, demonstrate knowledge of English grammar, spelling and punctuation, and be able to read and comprehend complex written material. Applicants must also be able to write clear, factual reports and hold a valid driver's license by the time they're appointed. A bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university is considered desirable, though not required, since it can help demonstrate the ability to write clear and comprehensive reports, interpret complex written material, and solve complex problems logically and systematically.
The next round of recruit training is expected to draw in nearly 30 applicants, per Kauai Now, suggesting the department intends to keep expanding its ranks in the coming months.
