The reason(s)?

1) Some people say the pay and headaches that comes with the job is not worth it.

2) Some people say many officers are leaving for better paying jobs and working conditions on the mainland.

3) Some people say the problem is addressed by overtime, enabling many officers to make upwards of 100K a year which also pads their retirement and they like it that way and want to keep it that way

If it's mostly #3, then it shows that public safety is not the priority and probably never was for decades.

And now with the State and City giving a big fat target to the criminals on sensitive places which encompasses 99.9% of our State, we law abiding citizens are sitting ducks or what some would say fish in a barrel as far as crimes of violence.

I think we've always had a shortage, but with the anti police movement in the past 5 years, doesn't help with staffing.

because of increased criminal activity in our neighborhood our HOA pays for extra duty officers to patrol

because of increased criminal activity in our neighborhood our HOA pays for extra duty officers to patrol

Wow, I've never heard of this before.

Most young people are unable to pass the physical fitness requirements to join right out of high school and college.  That's also impacting military recruitment.

... But how many young American adults are fit to serve?

According to a new report from the Heritage Foundation, not many. 
The conservative-leaning think tank calculates 71 percent of Americans
ages 17 to 24 aren’t eligible for service in the armed forces, even if
they want to join.

https://www.wpr.org/study-most-young-americans-arent-fit-military-service

So, it might not be so much that there are fewer willing recruits, but rather the pool of eligible recruits is smaller.

As with most issues, there's rarely one factor to consider, but to view HPD recruitment as a one-sided reason (people don't want to join) ignores the other side of the coin (HPD doesn't want just anyone to join).

I saw a video online where the Army is offering fitness programs for the fatsos.  Get them fit so they can pass basic training and not fall flat on their face from a heart attack.

Most young people are unable to pass the physical fitness requirements to join right out of high school and college.  That's also impacting military recruitment.
https://www.wpr.org/study-most-young-americans-arent-fit-military-service

So, it might not be so much that there are fewer willing recruits, but rather the pool of eligible recruits is smaller.

As with most issues, there's rarely one factor to consider, but to view HPD recruitment as a one-sided reason (people don't want to join) ignores the other side of the coin (HPD doesn't want just anyone to join).

Does 1 have to be 21 to join HPD?

I spoke to a fat officer and asked about their fitness requirements and it's much easier than the military. Like you could walk very fast the running requirement.  This was over 15 years ago, so I forgot the exact distance, but I wanna lean toward 1.5 miles in 22 mins or something.  I do remember him saying very fast walk.  Of course, this may have changed since then.

Then there's HFD's training video on youtube for their fitness test.  I had a friend call me for workout tips because he had trouble lifting the ladder to place it nicely on the truck. I asked what he does and he sent me the vid.  Bascially, you aren't allowed to run during the course. So he's skinny, but just weak.  So much easier than a military PT minimum requirement.

I think for both organizations, getting in is the hardest part. I know a few guys who applied and got rejected, but were accepted into the DLNR program or Sheriff.  Then for HFD, passing with a 90% on the written is another difficult part.

Coincidently, a video on the Insider YT channel popped up yesterday about the military and fat people being rolled.

I saw a video online where the Army is offering fitness programs for the fatsos.  Get them fit so they can pass basic training and not fall flat on their face from a heart attack.

This is the issue, if 1 is going into basic or any other type of school/program, they should be fit enough already.  As in they're well aware of when basic is, so start getting into shape before signing the contract and going to MEPS.  Other selections may be more difficult as 1 may be deployed prior to.  There was a show on the military channel about Special Forces selection and 2 guys 3 days prior to the process were in Iraq or something serving with Ranger Regiment.

In this vid, there is the swimming under water for X amount of meters with no coming up for air.  During the BUDs program on TV (class 234), many fail or have shallow water blackouts.  But for this part, everyone passed cause they were already some kind of spec ops and kept in shape.  Which brings me to my statement above about being ready and 2 guys were in a warzone surrounded by sand.

Does 1 have to be 21 to join HPD?

I spoke to a fat officer and asked about their fitness requirements and it's much easier than the military. Like you could walk very fast the running requirement.  This was over 15 years ago, so I forgot the exact distance, but I wanna lean toward 1.5 miles in 22 mins or something.  I do remember him saying very fast walk.  Of course, this may have changed since then.

Then there's HFD's training video on youtube for their fitness test.  I had a friend call me for workout tips because he had trouble lifting the ladder to place it nicely on the truck. I asked what he does and he sent me the vid.  Bascially, you aren't allowed to run during the course. So he's skinny, but just weak.  So much easier than a military PT minimum requirement.

I think for both organizations, getting in is the hardest part. I know a few guys who applied and got rejected, but were accepted into the DLNR program or Sheriff.  Then for HFD, passing with a 90% on the written is another difficult part.

Coincidently, a video on the Insider YT channel popped up yesterday about the military and fat people being rolled.

Only need to pass the PT test in the academy. Yearly recall no need.

No wonder some of them turn into pumpkins.  No accountability.

I think we've always had a shortage, but with the anti police movement in the past 5 years, doesn't help with staffing.

Anti-police movement,
In Hawaii?
OK try this one, how easy is it to get a CCW in Hawaii?
My cousin in WA state got one in two weeks.
Just a background check and a few dollars..
Who wants to work for politically correct idiots
running the various police departments?
People that make things up as they go along.
No self respecting guy wants to work for people like that.
Keep in mind about the dangerous nature of the work,
Cops aren't in the top ten most dangerous jobs in the USA.
They can blast away and then get a paid vacation.
 
No wonder, nobody wants to be a cop.