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Drone Laws in Hawaii (Everything You Need To Know in 2023)

Updated in 2023 by Paul Posea
Drone Laws in Hawaii
height flight limit 1

400ft Max Height

cant fly over crowds of people 1

Under 100 MPH

plane icon white 1 1

Avoid airports

line of sight law 1

Only line of sight

It’s no secret that Hawaii is home to breathtaking views and landscapes. A lot of drone pilots flock there to take shots like the one above,  but to fly safely and legally you have to be familiar with the drone laws in Hawaii first.

Can I Fly a Drone in Massachusetts?

You may be wondering if you can fly your drone in Hawaii in the first place, since there are some places in the US that completely ban drones. Drones are allowed in Hawaii for recreational and commercial uses!

They’re however regulated by a myriad of laws and regulations. There are three types of drone laws in Hawaii which we’ll go over in this article.

Starting with the first and general type of laws; federal drone laws.

Federal Drone Laws in Hawaii

Federal laws are laws that apply to every state in the United States, including Hawaii, and were created by the federal government.

I have covered them in-depth in my previous drone laws article, but I’ll briefly go over them here.

There are two types of drone flying: Recreational flying, which means flying for fun, as a hobby. And commercial flying, which according to the FAA is any flying that you’re compensated for (even shooting and selling stock images).

Recreational Flying

In order to fly recreationally, you’ll need to pass a simple online test called the TRUST. Beware of anyone who tries to charge you for it as the FAA requires the test to be free.

If you want to pass the test, my personal recommendation are Uavcoach, they’re an FAA approved test administrator.

You’ll also need to register your drone, which will only cost you $5. Note that once you receive your registration number you have to write it on your drone.

Commercial Flying

In order to fly commercially, i.e receive money from your drone flights, you’ll have to study for and pass the 107 test. I have done a complete guide on that test here.

There are also other conditions that you must fulfill in order to be eligible to fly your drone commercially in Hawaii. You can check them in-depth in my US drone laws article.

The General Federal Laws in Hawaii

Below are the federal drone laws in Hawaii that you’ll have to keep in mind:

  • Do not fly higher than 400ft
  • Do not fly in uncontrolled airspace without a permit (read up more on that here)
  • Always maintain visual line of sight
  • Never interfere with manned aircrafts
  • Do not fly over crowds of people
  • Your drone must be registered with the FAA on the FAADroneZone website.
  • Your maximum drone speed must not exceed 100 mph
  • Your maximum drone weight must be lower than 55 lbs, at takeoff.
  • You cannot fly from a moving vehicle.

This was a general view on the federal drone laws in Hawaii. To fly safely, you’ll need more information and an in-depth view of the current drone laws landscape, check out my previous detailed article about the subject.

State Drone Laws in Hawaii

Drone Laws in Hawaii

In addition to federal drone laws, there are state laws that apply only to the state of Hawaii, and were created by its legislature.

There is only one major state law in Hawaii regarding drone use. Here is the gist of it, according to the Hawaii State Legislature.

This law dictates that there should be a chief operating officer position for the Hawaii drone test site. It also establishes an unmanned aerial systems test site advisory board to plan and oversee test site development and appropriates funds to establish the test site.

If you’re only flying for fun, it doesn’t really have much to do with you.

Local Drone Laws in Hawaii

These local drone laws are laws that only apply to certain cities or regions within the state of Hawaii. They’re created and enforced by the local authorities.

There is actually only one local drone law in Hawaii that you’ll have to keep in mind. And that is that the launching, or landing of drones is prohibited in any of Hawaii’s state parks. 

What Happens if You Break the Drone Laws in Hawaii?

Fines are up to the enforcement division, the FAA however will rarely go for the maximum. 

In the case of an accidental first-offense, the FAA will probably just require a temporary suspension of your UAS Airman certificate and remedial training. 

For the more egregious offenses, such as flying in an airport vicinity, expect slightly more serious repercussions.

In conclusion, just make sure you keep the federal laws in mind as they are the most important, and keep in mind to always ask for permission before flying in public parks.

Have fun and fly safely, most of these laws are just common sense.

author-paul-posea-picture
Hi, I'm Paul.
A big drone enthusiast, reviewing, comparing and writing about drones since 2015. I'm all about helping people enjoy and even monetize their hobby.

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paul posea
Paul Posea
Hi, I'm a long-time drone reviewer and I hope my articles and comparisons on this site as well as Dronesgator's youtube channel are of as much help as possible.
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