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Drone Authority
Golden coastal aerial landscape seen from drone altitude, used as regional context for Hawaii drone lawsSTATE · HAWAII

Drone laws by state

Hawaii drone laws

Start with Hawaii's state, local, and land-manager rules. Then use the federal baseline as the floor before you launch.

Primary sources reviewed July 26, 2026Check local city and park rules
All states
By Reviewed July 26, 2026State and agency primary sources checked claim by claim

State answer first

What changes in Hawaii

You can generally fly a drone in Hawaii if you follow the FAA rules and then add the state, local, and land-manager restrictions below.

Federal FAA rules apply throughout Hawaii, while current state law adds criminal tiers for dangerous or abusive uncrewed-aircraft conduct, requires direct human operation, and creates a narrow dwelling-focused trespass rule. Hawaii State Parks separately prohibits drone use, launching, and landing, so legal airspace alone does not establish a legal launch site.1567

Local posture

Check local city and park rules

Parks and land

Verify each launch site

Airspace

FAA rules still control

Hawaii drone laws at a glance

Can I fly here?Yes, generally — follow the FAA rules, then add the Hawaii restrictions on this page.
Local ordinancesCheck local city and park rules
State parks & landHawaii State Parks publishes a direct prohibition on drone use, launching, and landing. Other DLNR lands and county properties may use different rules, so identify the exact managing agency.7
License & registrationFederal, same in every state: Part 107 or TRUST, plus registration and Remote ID when the aircraft must be registered.
Where to flyFlying sites, clubs, and FRIAs in Hawaii
Last reviewedJuly 26, 2026 · claim-level primary sources below

State-specific rules to check

  • 01

    Hawaii grades uncrewed-aircraft offenses by conduct and harm, including armed operation, manned-aircraft interference, prison contraband, identification-signal tampering, lighting obstruction, emergency-response interference, injury, property damage, and intoxicated operation.234

  • 02

    HRS § 711-1124 states that an uncrewed aircraft shall be directly operated by a human operator at all times.5

  • 03

    HRS § 711-1125 addresses intentional operation across another person's property within 50 feet of a dwelling to coerce, intimidate, or harass, and certain operation after actual notice to desist. Consent and otherwise lawful federally authorized operations are listed exceptions.6

  • 04

    Hawaii State Parks prohibits the use, launching, or landing of drones or other aircraft.7

  • 05

    Using a UAS on, in, or near state marine waters to take aquatic life requires a permit. The statute expressly allows simple reconnaissance.8

  • 06

    No broad statewide preemption rule was identified in the reviewed sources. County, property, venue, and protected-area rules still need review.17

Launch-day workflow

Before you fly in Hawaii

Work through these state-specific checks before the usual FAA airspace, weather, aircraft, and crew review.

  1. 01

    Rule out State Park property

    Do not use, launch, or land a drone in a Hawaii State Park. Confirm that the planned ground location is outside State Park Service property.7

  2. 02

    Check the dwelling and notice rule

    Map the camera path and property boundary, keep clear of conduct covered by the 50-foot dwelling rule, and stop if the statute's actual-notice provision applies.6

  3. 03

    Keep a human directly operating

    Use automation only within a mission where a human remains the direct operator and all federal operating requirements are satisfied.5

  4. 04

    Separate reconnaissance from taking aquatic life

    Simple reconnaissance is treated differently from using a UAS to take aquatic life. Obtain the required permit before any operation that crosses that line.8

Beyond the airspace layer

Land access and wildlife are separate decisions

Managed land

Hawaii State Parks publishes a direct prohibition on drone use, launching, and landing. Other DLNR lands and county properties may use different rules, so identify the exact managing agency.7

Compare public-land managers

Wildlife and hunting

A UAS may not be used on, in, or near state marine waters to take aquatic life without a permit, although simple reconnaissance is expressly allowed. Protected lands can add separate access restrictions.87

Read the wildlife guideCheck recovery rules

Local preemption

Check local city and park rules

We could not verify a clear statewide preemption posture; assume local rules may apply and verify before flying.

Parks and launch sites

Check the land manager

Hawaii State Parks publishes a direct prohibition on drone use, launching, and landing. Other DLNR lands and county properties may use different rules, so identify the exact managing agency.

Primary sources

These sources support the material state claims above. State laws, local park rules, and emergency restrictions can still change faster than a static guide.