Are Hawaii beaches all public?

Lucky for you, all beaches in Hawaii are open to the public, with the exception of certain Federal Government areas. That's right—there are NO private beaches in Hawaii! According to the Hawai'i Supreme Court, any land below the highest wave line is considered state property and open to the public.



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There are no private beaches on Maui, so the public has access to all Maui beach parks on the island. Hawaii law states that all land below the high tide mark is automatically owned by the state, so even beaches next to private homes are still open to the public.

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Collecting beach glass and shells is still allowed. But if you're collecting shells for the purposes of commercial activity, a Commercial Marine License is required per HRS §189-2,3 and Hawai'i Administrative Rule §13-74-20.

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And that's a very risky endeavor, as taking sand from any beach in Hawaii is punishable by fines upwards of $100,000. This includes Papakolea Beach, also known as Green Sands Beach, and Punalu'u Beach, which is famous for its black volcanic sands.

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Generally, beach camping is allowed on designated campgrounds or with a valid permit. However, it is not permitted on all beaches, especially those designated as protected areas or wildlife habitats.

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If you want to save a bit of money on hotel prices, it pays to know the cheapest time to travel. During the off-season, from September to early December and from February to early April, you can often score lower prices than you would during the summer months. You can also stay in Hawaii's less expensive areas.

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All beaches in Hawai?i are public and free, so grab a chair, towel, and book and bounce around from beach to beach. Waikiki Beach (shown below) is but one of many of the amazing white-sand beaches on O?ahu.

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Hawaii Aloha Travel > Blog > No Boozing on the Beach in Hawaii. Is drinking alcohol on a beach allowed in Hawaii? Unfortunately, it is not allowed. According to the law, it is illegal to have an open container of alcohol in your car or in public places, like beaches, parks or street sides.

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Niihau, also known as the Forbidden Isle, is a beautiful small island in Hawaii spread across 180 sq km. The island is off-limits to outsiders and only the Robinson family, their relatives, invited guests, government officials and US Navy personnel are allowed here.

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Swimming across the channel between Maui and the neighboring island of Lana?i is no easy task. With a distance of around 10 miles, this open-water challenge has been attempted by countless swimmers looking for an ultimate endurance test.

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If you're thinking about taking a little piece of Hawaii home with you, think again. It's not only illegal to take lava rocks from Hawaii, but it's also considered bad luck. Known as Pele's Curse, taking lava rocks from the islands is said to bring bad luck and misfortune upon the thief.

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