Hawaii hunting and fishing laws
The Hawaii rules that catch people out, in plain English: hunter education, minimum age, blaze orange, Sunday hunting, shooting hours, baiting, night hunting, tagging and private land. Each one links to the state's own text.
Season dates for 2026-27. Page updated October 12, 2026.
These pages sum up the rules to help you find them. They are not legal advice. The state's own regulations govern, so check them before you go.
Hunter education in Hawaii
Anyone born after December 31, 1971 is required to take a Hunter Education Course in order to purchase a hunting license. Exempt are those born before January 1, 1972 who held a license before July 1, 1990, and holders of an approved out-of-state certificate.
Minimum hunting age in Hawaii
Hunter education certification is required for residents 10 and older to buy a hunting license, and a certificate is issued only after the course is completed and the student is at least 10. Hunters 15 and younger who hunt with a firearm need a permit from the county police department and must be accompanied by a licensed adult.
Blaze orange in Hawaii
Required. Any person who hunts in public hunting areas is required to wear an exterior blaze orange garment, which may be a shirt, vest, coat, or jacket, made of commercially manufactured, solid blaze-orange material, visible from front and back. Not required on archery-only areas or on private land unless the landowner requires it. No pink allowance was found.
Sunday hunting in Hawaii
Hawaii is inverted from the mainland pattern: hunting days are set per unit and season, and may be Saturdays, Sundays, State Holidays, or daily depending on the specific hunting unit. Many units are weekend or holiday only. This varies by unit and island.
Shooting hours in Hawaii
Applies to: Big game
Game mammals may be hunted from one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset.
Applies to: Upland and small game
HAR 13-122-8: hunting is permitted from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset for all legal game birds unless otherwise designated.
Baiting in Hawaii
Not verified. Neither the game mammal rules (HAR 13-123) nor the game bird rules (HAR 13-122) posted by DLNR contain a baiting provision; the bird rules do ban live decoys for doves and dogs, electronic calls and live decoys in the spring turkey hunt. Confirm with the official regulations before you hunt.
Night hunting in Hawaii
Applies to: Big game
No person shall hunt game mammals with the use of artificial light. Hawaii has no predator or furbearer game class.
Tagging and reporting a harvest in Hawaii
Applies to: Big game
Game must be preserved in a condition that will enable the identification of their sex and species, and the head and scrotum may be required to remain attached to the carcass as evidence while in the hunting area.
Hunting on private land in Hawaii
Game mammals may be hunted with a valid hunting license and the landowner's permission on private land throughout the year.
Can you show your Hawaii license on your phone?
Carry the signed printed license and tags.
DLNR says the license printed after an online purchase “will constitute your official Hunting License,” to be signed in two places, and no other license is mailed. Rules require hunters to “carry their valid hunting license, as well as required permits or tags, on their person at all times while in the hunting area.” No DLNR statement accepting a phone display was found. Deer tags must be fastened to the carcass.
Signed printed license, permits and tags
Hawaii hunting season dates, 2026-27
The main seasons, from the state's published dates. Zones and units can differ; each season links to the state's own page for it.
| Season | Dates | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deer — archery | Sep 1 – Dec 31, 2026 | Kauai Unit F (daily); Units J and K weekends/holidays | One deer of either sex per season; tag required |
| Deer — muzzleloader | Sep 5 – Sep 6, 2026 | Kauai Units A and B | |
| Deer — rifle | Sep 12 – Oct 25, 2026 | Kauai Unit A | Sat–Sun only; Unit B Sep 11–Oct 26 Fri–Mon; tag by drawing |
| Mouflon — general rifle | Aug 14 – Oct 11, 2026 | Lanai | 9 consecutive weekends; lottery permit only |
| Game birds (pheasant, francolin, chukar, doves) | Not published yet | All islands, public hunting areas | 2026-27 dates not yet published; most areas weekends/holidays |
| Spring turkey | Not published yet | Hawaii Island (Units A, C, F, G) | 2027 dates not yet published; fall turkey hunting prohibited |
| Axis deer — general rifle | Not published yet | Lanai | 2027 dates not yet published; lottery permit, weekends only |
What you can hunt in Hawaii
Big game
- Feral pig General season Most islands
- Feral goat General season Most islands
- Axis deer General season Maui and Molokai; Lanai is lottery
- Mouflon sheep General season Hawaii Island; Lanai is lottery
- Feral sheep General season Hawaii Island
- Black-tailed deer Draw or limited entry Kauai only, lottery
- Black bear No season No bears in Hawaii
Upland and small game
- Wild turkey General season Maui is private land only
- Pheasant General season Ring-necked, green, kalij
- Francolin General season
- Chukar General season
- Quail General season California, Gambel's, Japanese
- Sandgrouse General season Hawaii Island
- Dove General season Spotted, barred, mourning
Waterfowl and migratory
- Ducks and geese No season No waterfowl season; nene protected
What you can fish for in Hawaii
Freshwater Game Fishing License; nonresidents also need a marine license
Fishing licenses sold: 1-day, 7-day, Annual
Trout and char
- Rainbow trout Needs a stamp Kokee, Kauai only, restricted season
Warmwater
- Largemouth bass Needs a stamp Freshwater Game Fishing License
- Smallmouth bass Needs a stamp Oahu and Kauai
- Peacock bass / tucunare Needs a stamp
- Oscar Needs a stamp
- Channel catfish Needs a stamp
Saltwater and marine
- Deep 7 bottomfish Tag or permit Free Bottomfish Vessel Registration
- Pelagics — ahi, mahimahi, ono, marlin General season Residents need no marine license; nonresidents do
- Reef fish General season Nonresident Recreational Marine Fishing License required
Official Hawaii links
Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife
Carry your Hawaii license on your phone
Sportsmen Ledger holds your hunting and fishing licenses and tags, these rules and your harvest log, and it works with no signal. Free to start.
Compare with other states
- Hunter education requirements by state
- Minimum hunting age by state
- Blaze orange requirements by state
- Sunday hunting laws by state
- Legal shooting hours by state
- Baiting laws by state
- Night hunting laws by state
- Tagging and harvest reporting by state
- Hunting on private land, state by state
- Can you show your hunting or fishing license on your phone? Every state