While the beautiful Aloha State has several laws that were created with the utmost concern for public safety in mind, there are a few laws that are so obscure that not many people seem to know about them – even police officers. From outlawing activities that should be simple common sense to avoid, to laws that are clearly never enforced, these 15 laws showcase the illegal things in Hawaii that will leave you scratching your head, wondering how exactly they came to be enacted. We’re not sure, but they are definitely fun to read about!
- In Honolulu, it is illegal to annoy birds while in the limits of any public park.
Forest and Kim Starr/Flickr I would like to know what constitutes annoying birds. It’s an interesting law that makes you wonder where it originated from.
- It is illegal to have more than one alcoholic beverage in front of you at any given time.
Nurit Pazner/Flickr No double-fisting for you! Or even ordering a second drink when your first is almost gone… Just a weird law in Hawaii that you have to abide by.
- At one point in time, it was illegal to leave home without knowing your destination.
Steven Worster/Flickr Maybe because aimless driving leads to more accidents? This strange law in Hawaii has us scratching our heads.
- As of 2014, it became illegal for police officers to have sex with prostitutes during an investigation.
Jonas Schmid/Flickr Shouldn’t that have always been against the law? While perhaps not always a law, it should at least have been a pretty solid ethical decision.
- It is illegal to place coins in your ears.
Adam Cohn/Flickr So much for that classic magic trick where you pull coins out of another person’s ear… a weird law in Hawaii for sure. We’re wondering where this one came from.
- While we’re talking about ears, it is also illegal to have a tattoo behind your ear.
Steven Pisanto/Flickr Unless in the presence of a registered physician, of course. Perhaps there has been some accidents?
- It is illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to purchase or use tobacco products of any kind.
Kanaka Menehune/Flickr I guess that’s one way to get young adults to stop smoking cold turkey. Not a weird law, but one of the new illegal things in Hawaii.
- Breaking off mineral deposits and speleothems from a cave is unlawful.
Jeremy Nicoll/Flickr Because we believe in preserving Hawaii’s natural beauty. There are a couple of illegal things in Hawaii that have to do with beaches and water, so make sure to read up!
- This may be a no-brainer, but feeding sharks is illegal.
Amy/Flickr Speaking of sharks, anyone in possession of the fin of a shark can be imprisoned for up to one year. Not a strange law in Hawaii, more of a protective law that we can get behind.
- In the ancient Hawaiian Orakama tribe, it was illegal for a man to eat his second wife.
Brian Talbot/Flickr But eating your first wife is not only legal – it’s encouraged? And how many times did this happen before it became illegal?
- It is illegal to use imitation milk in a milkshake without warning.
New1mproved/Flickr I wonder how much milk producers paid to enact that law. One of the more random illegal things in Hawaii.
- Killing a seeing eye dog is against the law.
Swong95765/Flickr Shouldn’t it be illegal to kill any dog, anywhere? We’re glad this illegal thing in Hawaii has made it to the books, though.
- It is unlawful for a shooting gallery to offer liquor as a prize.
Ryan Ozawa/Flickr Because you don’t want the shooter to try again after consumption of said alcoholic beverage, of course. This one makes sense.
- It is against the law to display captive dolphins and whales.
Justin De La Ornellas/Flickr I’m not quite sure how Sea Life Park got around that one… we’d love to learn more about this strange law in Hawaii.
- Apparently, it is illegal to appear in public wearing only swimming trunks.
www.BlueWaikiki.com/Flickr If this is an actual law, it is definitely not enforced. We’re wondering where this law came into practice, and if it’s ever enforced today?
Do any of these illegal things in Hawaii surprise you? What other interesting Hawaii laws do you know about? Share them with us on our Only In Hawaii Facebook page!
Forest and Kim Starr/Flickr
I would like to know what constitutes annoying birds. It’s an interesting law that makes you wonder where it originated from.
Nurit Pazner/Flickr
No double-fisting for you! Or even ordering a second drink when your first is almost gone… Just a weird law in Hawaii that you have to abide by.
Steven Worster/Flickr
Maybe because aimless driving leads to more accidents? This strange law in Hawaii has us scratching our heads.
Jonas Schmid/Flickr
Shouldn’t that have always been against the law? While perhaps not always a law, it should at least have been a pretty solid ethical decision.
Adam Cohn/Flickr
So much for that classic magic trick where you pull coins out of another person’s ear… a weird law in Hawaii for sure. We’re wondering where this one came from.
Steven Pisanto/Flickr
Unless in the presence of a registered physician, of course. Perhaps there has been some accidents?
Kanaka Menehune/Flickr
I guess that’s one way to get young adults to stop smoking cold turkey. Not a weird law, but one of the new illegal things in Hawaii.
Jeremy Nicoll/Flickr
Because we believe in preserving Hawaii’s natural beauty. There are a couple of illegal things in Hawaii that have to do with beaches and water, so make sure to read up!
Amy/Flickr
Speaking of sharks, anyone in possession of the fin of a shark can be imprisoned for up to one year. Not a strange law in Hawaii, more of a protective law that we can get behind.
Brian Talbot/Flickr
But eating your first wife is not only legal – it’s encouraged? And how many times did this happen before it became illegal?
New1mproved/Flickr
I wonder how much milk producers paid to enact that law. One of the more random illegal things in Hawaii.
Swong95765/Flickr
Shouldn’t it be illegal to kill any dog, anywhere? We’re glad this illegal thing in Hawaii has made it to the books, though.
Ryan Ozawa/Flickr
Because you don’t want the shooter to try again after consumption of said alcoholic beverage, of course. This one makes sense.
Justin De La Ornellas/Flickr
I’m not quite sure how Sea Life Park got around that one… we’d love to learn more about this strange law in Hawaii.
If this is an actual law, it is definitely not enforced. We’re wondering where this law came into practice, and if it’s ever enforced today?
Looking for more interesting laws in Hawaii? These 20 Hawaiian Laws Will Leave You Scratching Your Head In Confusion.
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Illegal Things In Hawaii August 26, 2022 Megan McDonald What is the weirdest law in Hawaii? Another interesting law is that there’s a Hawaiian law dating all the way back to 1418, that makes it illegal to sink any of the Hawaiian islands. While we’re eternally grateful for this law, we wonder: how exactly would one go about sinking an island? Especially in 1418. And why would we want to? What illegal thing in Hawaii makes a lot of sense? Recently the Hawaiian islands have made it illegal to talk and text while driving in Hawaii. And to expand safety precautions, they’ve also made it illegal to talk or text when crossing a sidewalk in Hawaii. We hope these new safety precautions make it safer for everyone!
The OIYS Visitor Center
Illegal Things In Hawaii
August 26, 2022
Megan McDonald
What is the weirdest law in Hawaii? Another interesting law is that there’s a Hawaiian law dating all the way back to 1418, that makes it illegal to sink any of the Hawaiian islands. While we’re eternally grateful for this law, we wonder: how exactly would one go about sinking an island? Especially in 1418. And why would we want to? What illegal thing in Hawaii makes a lot of sense? Recently the Hawaiian islands have made it illegal to talk and text while driving in Hawaii. And to expand safety precautions, they’ve also made it illegal to talk or text when crossing a sidewalk in Hawaii. We hope these new safety precautions make it safer for everyone!
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Another interesting law is that there’s a Hawaiian law dating all the way back to 1418, that makes it illegal to sink any of the Hawaiian islands. While we’re eternally grateful for this law, we wonder: how exactly would one go about sinking an island? Especially in 1418. And why would we want to?
What illegal thing in Hawaii makes a lot of sense?
Recently the Hawaiian islands have made it illegal to talk and text while driving in Hawaii. And to expand safety precautions, they’ve also made it illegal to talk or text when crossing a sidewalk in Hawaii. We hope these new safety precautions make it safer for everyone!
