Ah, Hawaii! The mere mention of this Pacific paradise probably conjures images of sandy beaches, hula dancers, surfers riding those legendary waves, and breathtaking sunsets. A dream destination for tourists worldwide, the Aloha State is known for its lush landscapes, volcanoes, and rich Hawaiian culture.
But behind the postcards and Instagram shots lies something else – weird Hawaii laws that are so quirky they could make a pineapple giggle! While you’re snorkeling off the coast of Maui or hiking to see lava flows on the Big Island, take a moment to appreciate Hawaii’s legal oddities.
From surprising pet restrictions to questionable party etiquette, these weird laws might just make you say, “Aloha…really?!”
Billboards? No, thank you!
You won’t see towering billboards messing with your Instagram-worthy view of those wonderful Hawaiian sunsets. The locals made this very clear: billboards are a big “nope” because nothing should compete with the island’s natural beauty. Lawmakers agreed, and poof—no giant, ugly looking ads. Now, you can just focus on the palm trees and rainbows!
You can’t have a twin and both work for one company
It’s illegal to work in the same company as your twin. We wonder what kind of shenanigans led to this becoming an actual law? Hmm…
No pet birds near public eateries
It’s best to leave your pet bird at home or risk getting fined if you bring them with you in and near public eateries where they could bother people.
Seatbelts all around
If you’re in a car, you must wear a seatbelt even if you’re in the backseat. That’s the law here in Hawaii. The only exception is if you are riding a truck and all spots are filled you are then allowed to ride into the truck bed. Otherwise, always wear a seatbelt so you don’t get a fine or worse.
Ears are for listening not for holding coins
When Hawaii became a US state, the government issued an order to destroy the local currency which locals didn’t really like. Their response was to hide coins in their… ears!!! Yep, you read that right. They actually thought this would be a good idea. This is now illegal, believe it or not so even if it sounds tempting and we know it does, don’t do it!
Charles is not a popular name
In Hawaii, people can’t name their child “Charles” so there’s that.
Surfers and a good vocabulary
Get this: surfers need to stick to around 100 words while talking and use those words and no other. Seems like maybe it’s sometimes hard to understand what a surfer says? Maybe? Otherwise why would they ask them to stick to 100 words?
Don’t annoy the birds, Steven!
Maybe you love birds and want to befriend some feathered pals in Hawaii’s parks and reservations. Maybe so but beware that annoying the Hawaian birds is forbidden and illegal! Be very careful around birds here, respect them and watch them from afar to stay out of trouble. Remember: birds are just trying to live their best island life just like you.
The one drink law
Some time ago, in Hawaii, lawmakers thought about how they could discourage people from drinking too much. A way to combat alcoholism was, in their opinion, to have bars serve just one drink at a time. Lawmakers probably thought they were pretty smart until people showed them otherwise: they just started drinking shot after shot in a rapid manner so the drinks would keep on coming. This law was repealed in 2014 because, well, it didn’t work. It’s probably better to find ways to encourage people (in a positive way) to reduce or stop drinking and offer support for them.
Pet lovers beware!
In Hawaii, you can’t have more than 15 pets of any kind! Yeah, we know that’s a real bummer but it seems going for a full on zoo is out of the question in this state.
Harming sharks is forbidden
Not that we could actually harm these behemoths, but if you did try to, you’d be in for a lot of trouble. Sharks are very important in Hawaiian culture (called manō) and are protected. Hawaii protects all its marine life, but sharks take one of the first spots on this list.
No sinking islands
This law is a very old one, from 1418 but it’s still in effect. This should be self-evident but sometimes, it needs to be written down, doesn’t it?
Palm tree are the tallest in the land
In Hawaii we have a somewhat peculiar law that states that buildings (that are located in the vicinity of palm trees) must never be taller than the palm trees. A palm tree is anywhere between 10-15 meters tall so that means buildings must adhere to these numbers.
Hazard lights are a no-go
If you have problems with your car while in Hawaii, it’s best to get off the road as soon as that is possible without turning on your hazard lights as that’s not accepted here.
Cover yourself up!
You aren’t allowed to appear “uncovered” in the street, in Waikīkī. This refers to people in their bathing suits but as to what “uncovered” actually means, we don’t know.
First wife is on the menu
You’re not allowed to eat your 2nd wife if you’re part of the Orakama tribe. But what about the first wife? No mention of that so you be the judge…
Fountains and coins don’t mix well
You are not allowed to throw coins in fountains in Hawaii. Why? Probably because they want to keep fountains clean. After all, you’d probably just be wasting a coin by doing this, no?
Don’t forget to check out more of our weird laws (we’ve got plenty of them on the site). We would recommend our cooky list of 17 weird Kentucky laws.
Well, did you enjoy our weird Hawaii laws? Found something interesting? Maybe something you could have gotten into trouble when on vacation there? Like we mentioned above, be careful with pet birds, sharks, coins or too many words as a surfer ;). Have a good one and Aloha!
I’m a passionate writer with an insatiable curiosity for history, obscure facts, and the weird corners of the internet. When I’m not fact-checking bizarre stories or diving into historical mysteries, I’m exploring the strange and unusual to bring you the most fascinating tales.
A self-proclaimed weirdness enthusiast, who loves turning the odd, the quirky, and the unbelievable into engaging stories for curious minds.
My kids sometimes call me the walking Wikipedia, which can get very annoying sometimes.
