Recreational Thrill Craft Operations
§13-256-17 Recreational thrill craft operations. (a) Access to and from designated recreational thrill craft operating areas shall be by the most direct route consistent with safety considerations. Thrill craft operators shall not exceed a speed of slow-no-wake when within three hundred feet of the shoreline.
(b) Thrill craft operation shall be prohibited in state waters surrounding the islands of Kahoolawe, Lanai, Molokai and Niihau. In all other non-designated ocean recreation management areas of state waters, recreational thrill craft may operate seaward of five hundred feet from the shoreline or the outer edge of the fringing reef whichever is greater.
(c) In designated ocean recreation management areas, recreational thrill craft may operate only within locations designated for recreational thrill craft use.
(d) No thrill craft shall be operated for profit or gain in a recreational thrill craft operating area.
(e) Recreational thrill craft may gain access to state waters only from launching or harbor facilities or from private beach front property.
(f) The State may exempt thrill craft from the requirements of this section, and allow thrill craft to operate outside of designated thrill craft areas, as described in subchapters two through eleven, conditioned upon application for, and receipt of, a miscellaneous use permit pursuant to section 13-231-3(a)(8).
NOTE: Prior to 12/31/18, thrill craft were not allowed to operate beyond two miles from nearest land. That outer limit has been repealed. In DOBOR’s interpretation of the current law, operation of a thrill craft is only allowed in the waters off four islands: Hawaii, Kauai, Oahu, and Maui. Because there is no outer limit for thrill craft, these vessels may be used to transit between these islands. However, because thrill craft operation is prohibited in waters off Kahoolawe, Lanai, Molokai, and Niihau, thrill craft operators are cautioned not to approach within three miles of these islands.
NOTE: Hawaii currently does not have a lanyard law. However, if your vessel is equipped with a lanyard kill switch, it is highly recommended you use it according to manufacturer specifications whenever the vessel is operated.
In Hawaii, it is legal to operate your vessel at night if it is outfitted with lighting that conforms to applicable carriage requirements detailed in 33 CFR 83.
Thrill craft may be used for tubing and water skiing, but the vessel must be operated in designated thrill craft riding areas within ORMAs or in non-designated State waters (Non-designated ORMAs) and must conform to carriage requirements for vessels towing skiers and sledding devices (i.e., an observer or a rear view mirror that allows the driver to see hand signals from the person or persons being towed). Using a thrill craft for tubing and water skiing does not require the “tow-in surfing” certification.
In Hawaii, it is illegal to anchor or moor on live corals. Make use of the State’s day mooring buoys or, if you must, anchor your vessel in sand or deploy a sea anchor to slow the drift of your vessel.
In general, fines for operating a thrill craft in an ORMA but out of the designated riding zone, operating a thrill craft without certification, etc., range from $50–$1000.
