Hawaii asks everyone. There is no birth-date cutoff and no age exemption — if the engine is over 10 hp, every operator has to carry proof of a NASBLA-approved course. The penalties are the sharpest of any state covered here.
| Who needs it | every operator, whatever their age or date of birth |
| Applies to | more than 10 hp |
| What it is called | Boating Safety Education Certificate |
| Issued by | Hawaii DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation |
| Penalty for operating without one | $50 to $1,000 per violation, up to 30 days imprisonment, or both |
| Additional sanction | A court may bar you from Hawaii state waters for up to 30 days |
| Visiting vessels | Exempt for 60 days |
BoatTests101 runs a Hawaii-approved course you can take at your own pace and finish in an afternoon. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link, at no extra cost to you.
Start the Hawaii courseVisiting vessels are exempt for 60 days. Beyond that there is no age or birth-date exemption — the requirement applies to every operator of a vessel over 10 hp.
Failing to present it when stopped is itself the violation. Fines run from $50 to $1,000, with up to 30 days imprisonment, though a court may accept later proof that you held a valid certificate at the time of the stop.
Hawaii recognises NASBLA-approved courses taught in the US, US territories and Canada, so a card earned elsewhere under that standard is accepted.
A licence makes you legal to operate. It tells you nothing about the boat itself. Run the hull number free — it decodes the builder and model year, and flags any US Coast Guard recall campaign on record for that manufacturer.