Hawaii Boat Registration
To operate your vessel in Hawaii, you must register your boat. All motorized vessels in Hawaii are required to be registered annually.
Once a vessel is registered the owner will receive a Certificate of Number that must be kept aboard the boat at all times and be readily available for inspection by a law enforcement officer.
The Certificate of Number and registration decals are obtained from the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation.
The department must be notified within seven days if the owner changes address or if the vessel is sold, destroyed, or abandoned.
There are some boats/vessels that do not have to be registered in Hawaii:
- Vessels that are documented with the U.S. Coast Guard or any other federal agency;
- Vessels that have been properly registered in another State and not operating on Hawaii’s State waters for more than 60 days;
- Vessels from another country and not operating on Hawaii’s State waters for more than 60 days;
- Vessels owned by the U.S Government;
- A vessel’s lifeboat used only for lifesaving purposes;
- Manually propelled vessels (e.g. canoes and kayaks);
- Vessels 8 feet in length or less propelled ONLY by sail;
- Motorboats used exclusively for racing;
- Vessels operating under a valid temporary certificate of number.
Where are registration numbers be displayed on a boat in Hawaii?
- A vessel’s number must be painted on or permanently attached to each side of the forward half of the vessel and must be read from left to right. The number shall not be placed on the obscure underside of a flared bow where the angle prevents it from being seen from another vessel or from the shore.
- The four numerals appearing between letters must be separated by hyphens or spaces equal to the width of any letter except “I”.
- Numbers and letters must be at least three (3) inches in height and of block character.
- Numbers must be of a color which will contrast with the color of the background.
- Numbers must be maintained so as to be clearly visible and legible at a distance of at least one hundred (100) feet.
- No other numerals, letters, or devices may be placed near the vessel number.
Where are registration stickers be displayed on a boat?
- Registration decals, which show valid registration, must be placed on each side of the vessel three (3) inches aft of the number and directly in line with it.
Documented Vessels
- Boats that are at least five net tons in size and owned by an American citizen may be registered with the U.S. Coast Guard. These boats are "documented". Documented boats do not need to be registered with the state. Commercial vessels holding a valid marine document may also be required to obtain an annual commercial decal.
