Hawaii requires insurance on every boat 26 feet or longer: at least $100,000 per occurrence, covering removal and salvage if the boat runs aground. Boats under 26 feet don't need it, unless the owner has grounded a vessel in Hawaii before. Boats kept in a state harbor or on a state mooring need more, set by the mooring permit. The law is Hawaii Revised Statutes ยง200-13.5, in force since 1 March 2020.
| Your boat | Insurance required? | Minimum |
|---|---|---|
| 26 ft or longer, state registered or USCG documented | Yes | $100,000 per occurrence, removal and salvage included |
| Under 26 ft | No | None |
| Under 26 ft, owner has grounded a vessel in Hawaii | Yes | $100,000 per occurrence |
| In a DLNR state harbor or mooring | Yes, as a permit condition | $300,000 to $500,000 liability, per DOBOR |
The 26-foot line
Length means the length as originally manufactured. Adding a swim platform or a bow pulpit doesn't push a 25-footer over the line, and the requirement includes boats of exactly 26 feet. The law aims at trailered boats and boats in private marinas, which had no insurance requirement before.
What counts as proof
According to the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation, you show proof when you first register, when you renew or transfer, and on the water if DLNR officers board you. For registration, bring the policy declarations page showing $100,000 of coverage with removal and salvage included. On board, an insurance card or the declarations page will do.
Either document has to show the carrier's name, phone number and mailing address, the policy number and dates, the insured's name and address, and the boat's year, make, model and HIN. If the HIN on your policy doesn't match the one on your registration, expect the paperwork to come back. Read your HIN off the transom and check it against both before you apply.
Exemptions
The Board of Land and Natural Resources can exempt a transient vessel, meaning one visiting Hawaii for less than 90 days and not kept in a state harbor or mooring area. The law only allows that for good cause and extraordinary circumstances, so a visiting boat shouldn't count on it.
Do you also need a boating licence?
That's a separate rule. Hawaii has no age exemption: every operator of a boat with more than 10 hp has to carry proof of a NASBLA-approved boating course. Hawaii boating license covers who needs one and how to get it.
Check the boat, not just the listing
Type the 12-character hull number from the transom. The decoder reads the builder, build month and model year, and the recall lookup lists any US Coast Guard recall campaign on record for that manufacturer. Free, no account.
