Hawaii

ORV Visible Identification

Hawaii does not require visible identification on ORVs.

View our report to learn about the 37 states that do require visible identification. Learn how Hawaii ranks compared to other states on visible identification requirements.

Recent Legislative Action

2009

HB14: Bans ORV riders under age 18 and requires helmets for others. (1/22/09: Introduced)

SB168: Requires helmets for riders under 18 (1/23/09: Introduced)

HB723: Classifies unauthorized ORV riding on another's property as simple trespass. (1/26/09: Introduced)

HB795: Bans riders under the age of 18 (2/14/09: Passed out of TNR Committee)

2008

SB 2926: Increases fines for riding off established trails (2/13/08: Passed out of Senate Committee)

HB 2364: Requires children under 18 to wear safety helmets when riding ATVs (2/14/08: In House Committee)

SB 1891: Gives DLNR enforcement officers the power to issue criminal citations, arrest violators and confiscate ATVs for violations. Fines range from $500 to $2,000 (7/7/08: Signed into law)

2007

HB 611: Classifies unauthorized ORV use on another person's land as simple trespass (1/22/07: Referred to Committee

HB 235: Limits ATV riding to adults (over 18), bans riding on public lands (1/29/07: Passed House Committee)

Community Voices Demand Action in Hawaii

Hawaiians are increasingly voicing their concerns about a growing contingent of reckless riders who break the law, damage public and private land, injure themselves and others, and ruin hunting, fishing and hiking experiences for the rest of us.

"If the illegal activity, which is damaging natural resources, doesn't stop, they will have no choice but to close the R-1 and R-10 to recreational riding." -- Laura H. Thielen, Department of Land and Natural Resources Chairwoman, "Illegal off-roaders plague Mauna Kea", Honolulu Advertiser (12/16/08)

"Beginning this year, Wai'anae police adopted a new strategy of treating ATVs on public roads as they would any other car or truck - issuing tickets to ATV operators for driving an unlicensed, unregistered vehicle. In several instances police even confiscated ATVs." -- Will Hoover, "Measure on illegal ATV use advances; Bill allows for citations, other penalties; Lingle's signature is all that's left", Honolulu Advertiser (5/5/08)

"That's what I think is really going to turn the tables on these things... Once one or two of these vehicles get impounded, the problem is going to be solved very quickly." -- Sen. Mike Gabbard, "Coastal Erosion - Bill has state seizing ATVs ridden on sand", Honolulu Star Bulletin (1/29/07)

Recent ORV-Related Media Coverage

Illegal off-roaders plague Mauna Kea

Written by Honolulu Advertiser
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
HILO, Hawai'i — Illegal off-roading is causing problems on the summit of Mauna Kea. Advertisement Department of Land and Natural Resources Chairwoman Laura H. Thielen said warning signs are being ignored and that illegal riding is taking place off the R-1 and R-10 roads, including climbing of Kanakaleonui cinder cone, 12 miles in from Hale Pohaku.
Read more... [Illegal off-roaders plague Mauna Kea]

Measure on illegal ATV use advances

Written by Honolulu Advertiser
Monday, May 05, 2008
Will Hoover The state Department of Land and Natural Resources could soon have the muscle it needs to combat a problem that has plagued Wai'anae Coast residents, pedestrians and motorists for years: Illegal all-terrain vehicles tearing along beaches, roadways and wilderness areas. A bill giving DLNR enforcement officers the power to issue criminal citations, arrest violators and even confiscate ATVs has passed both chambers of the state Legislature and needs only Gov. Linda Lingle's signature to become law.
Read more... [Measure on illegal ATV use advances]

Koheo Wetland restoration damaged

Written by Molokai Times
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Elementary school students were recently saddened when they saw that ATV use at the Koheo wetland had wiped out two years of their hard work planting native akulikuli (Sesuvium portulacastrum). The plants were grown in the classrooms as part of a second through fourth grade project focusing on the protection of wetlands. Over the weekend of March 8, someone entered Koheo wetland via the Kapaakea beach on an ATV and “made doughnuts” on the sand dune that the students were working on restoring: dozens of native plants were either damaged or totally destroyed. A pair of nesting endangered Hawaiian Stilts banded for research were also disturbed.
Read more... [Koheo Wetland restoration damaged]

State by State Momentum

Community Voices

“During the past decade, I have personally had six out of seven elk hunts ruined by the careless intrusions of ATV operators. This epidemic has forced me to abandon one prime hunting area after another, only to encounter the same situation elsewhere. The shameful part of this picture is that the overwhelming majority of these ATV’ers are young and healthy, not decrepit or physically challenged. Maybe these riders would be more respectful of other people's outdoor experience if they knew we could ID them."

- Bill Sustrich, Colorado Backcountry Hunters and Anglers