That’s how many lifeguards in Honolulu are men, with women making up fewer than 6 percent of the city’s Ocean Safety Department. Only 17 of the department’s roughly 300 lifeguards are women, one of the lowest shares in the nation. The imbalance persists even as female lifeguards patrol some of Hawaii’s most dangerous beaches and, in some recent recruit classes, have passed qualifying tests at higher rates than their male counterparts. The disparity reflects a broader trend. Nationally, women account for just 12 percent of police officers and 9 percent of firefighters.
