Hawai‘i Police Department swears in four at 103rd recruit graduation in Hilo

The Hawai‘i Police Department swore in four new officers following the recognition and badge-pinning ceremony for its 103rd Police Recruit Class in Hilo. The newly sworn-in officers are Officer Ethan J. Castillo, class president; Officer Roberto F. Lopez; Officer Dayton K. Fukunaga; and Officer James R. Skizewski. The ceremony included a badge-pinning in which each officer was honored by a loved one, and attendance was limited to police personnel, guest speakers, and family members.

The department’s official release says the 103rd Recruit Class began training on April 1, 2025. According to the Hawai‘i Police Department, recruits completed six months of academic instruction that concluded on Oct. 15, 2025, and then completed four months of field training under the guidance of veteran officers across various districts. The department’s timeline places the field-training window roughly between mid-October 2025 and mid-February 2026; the swearing-in occurred Jan. 28, 2026. The department’s release does not explicitly state whether all field training obligations had concluded prior to the Jan. 28 ceremony.

Awards at the recognition honored specific achievements in the class. Officer Ethan J. Castillo received the Firearms Award for demonstrating the highest proficiency in weapons handling and the Physical Fitness Award for maintaining top conditioning throughout training. Officer James R. Skizewski earned the Academic Award for achieving the highest overall average on weekly academy examinations.

Interim Police Chief Reed Mahuna framed the graduates’ work in the context of island culture and community responsibility. “As you begin your careers in law enforcement, remember that the foundation of your service must always be rooted in our Hawaiian values: aloha in how you treat others, kuleana in the responsibility you carry, pono in doing what is right even when no one is watching, and lokahi in working together with the community you serve,” Mahuna said. “These values should guide every decision you make, on and off duty.” Class president Officer Ethan J. Castillo addressed the class, command staff, and guests during the ceremony, though his remarks were not quoted in the department release.

For residents of Hilo and the Big Island, the graduation represents both an increase in sworn personnel and a public reaffirmation of the department’s stated commitment to community-oriented policing rooted in local values. The badge-pinning ritual also underscored family and community support that departments cite as key to officer retention and community trust.

The Hawai‘i Police Department provided a class photo credited to the department showing, left to right, Officer Roberto F. Lopez, Officer Dayton K. Fukunaga, Officer Ethan J. Castillo (class president), and Officer James R. Skizewski. For non-emergency concerns or follow-up, the department lists its non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311; emergency calls should be dialed to 911. Department headquarters are at 349 Kapiʻolani Street, Hilo, HI 96720.

What comes next for these officers will depend on final field assignments and ongoing supervision by veteran officers across county districts; the ceremony marks an important step toward strengthening local public safety capacity and maintaining lines of accountability between law enforcement and the communities they serve.