Hawaii police to test new ballistic vest uniform for patrol officers

The Hawaii Police Department was preparing to test a new external ballistic vest uniform for patrol officers, a change aimed at improving protection without making the job harder in Hawaii’s heat, humidity and long street shifts. Ten selected officers were set to wear the vest as part of their regular duty uniform from May 1 through May 31, putting the gear in daily use across Hawaii Island rather than in a controlled office setting.

Captain Levon Stevens is coordinating the 30-day operational Test and Evaluation, which the department said could be extended by another 30 days if more feedback is needed. HPD said it wants to judge the vest on comfort, mobility, durability and overall performance in Hawaii conditions and climate. That is the real question behind the rollout: whether a more visible vest can improve officer safety while still letting patrol officers move, respond and work effectively during the kind of calls that come with duty in Hilo, Kailua-Kona and other parts of the county.

The department is also treating the test as a public-facing issue. Because the vest will be part of the regular patrol uniform, residents are likely to see it on street patrol, and HPD is asking for community feedback on appearance, professionalism and general impressions. That makes the test about more than equipment. It is also about how officers present themselves in public and whether a change in uniform strengthens trust, visibility and the sense that officers are prepared for the work they are doing.

The evaluation comes early in Chief Reed K. Mahuna’s tenure. Mahuna was sworn in on February 20, 2026, as HPD’s 13th police chief after serving as interim chief beginning September 1, 2025, following the retirement of Chief Benjamin Moszkowicz. HPD said the effort fits Mahuna’s push to give officers the best equipment to enhance safety and effectiveness while serving the public. Any countywide adoption would eventually carry cost implications for the County of Hawaii, from purchasing and fitting the vests to replacing them over time.

The vest test also fits a department that already has a formal framework for changing policy and equipment. HPD said its 105 General Orders cover everything from body-worn camera use to uniform regulations, and the department implemented a body-worn camera program for uniform officers in fiscal year 2020-2021. HPD’s latest CALEA re-accreditation came on November 11, 2023, underscoring that the vest trial is part of an ongoing effort to update police tools while keeping the agency within formal standards.