Kajiyama, a 27-year HPD veteran who started out walking a beat in Chinatown, said he is honored to temporarily take up the role of chief.

Kajiyama joined the department in 1977 and has served as first deputy chief since 2002. Before that, he worked as a major in the human resources division and was instrumental in recruiting new officers to the force in the late 1990s, after many officers had retired or moved to other jurisdictions.

Kajiyama said regardless of who ends up as chief, Donohue's tenure will be difficult to follow.

"He's an officer's chief," he said. "He gained the respect of everyone because they saw him rise through the ranks."

Donohue will retire after six years as the city's top cop.

Donohue declined to be interviewed, but sent an e-mail that said he thanks his officers, other law enforcement officials and the community for their support during his years as a police officer.

Donohue, 61, who spent six years in charge of more than 2,000 officers, leaves the $110,000-a-year job more than three years before his five-year term expires.

Ron Taketa, chairman of the Honolulu Police Commission, said a new chief will be named toward the end of August.

On Saturday, the 13 applicants, all from HPD, took a written test, the first step in the final evaluation process. On July 21, the police commission will meet in executive session with Terry Eisenberg, a Mainland consultant hired to help with the search, to receive the results of the exam.

Taketa said the first cut will be made at that meeting.

"We'll determine what group goes on to the assessment phase. It could be anywhere from 7-12 (candidates) that move on," he said.

The assessment phase, he said, will take place Aug. 10-11. During that segment of the selection process, Eisenberg and a group of community members will assess each candidate's performance in a series of exercises, and another cut will be made.

"There is no hard number for finalists. There could be anywhere from three to five based on how the top applicants are clustered," he said.