Last updated: September 09, 2024Although flying a drone is lots of fun, you have to make sure you’re following the laws of wherever you’re flying it. So, although you can fly a drone in Hawaii and enjoy the experience, you also need to know the Hawaii drone laws. These laws guide the places where you can fly your drones and if you need to register them.
These drone regulations in Hawaii are constantly changing, and it’s essential to keep yourself up to date with these laws if you’re planning to fly your drone regularly. This guide will cover all the rules you need to keep in mind if you’re throwing your drone up to fly in Hawaii.
Yes, you can fly drones in Hawaii. Drones are allowed in Hawaii to fly for recreational and commercial use. The flight of drones is regulated by FAA regulations and the rules given by the local government you’re in.
If you’re visiting Hawaii, you might want to take pictures of beautiful sceneries. You can go for the durable DJI Mini 2, which is fantastic for travel. For your kids, the 4DV2 Mini Drone is a great way to introduce them to photography and flying.
Before you unpack your drone and start flying it in Hawaii, you need to know the general drone regulations. You will have to follow the federal, state, and local drone laws if you want to fly safely. Keep in mind that the flight of drones is regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration, which also governs the airspace in other parts of the USA.
As the name implies, the federal drone laws were created by the federal government of the United States of America. These laws apply to the entirety of the USA.
Drones are allowed in Hawaii for commercial purposes, which are work or business purposes. If you are a commercial drone pilot in Hawaii, the rules are the art 107 Small UAS Rule from the FAA. You also need to receive a Remote Pilot Certificate, and it’s awarded when you pass the Aeronautical Knowledge Test.
Government employees like police and fire station workers can also fly a drone if they have a Certificate of Authorization or based on the Part 107 rules.
But, recreational flying of drones is also guided by the Hawaii drone laws. Drone hobbyists have to pass the Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST) Trusted Source The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST) | FAA All recreational flyers must pass an aeronautical knowledge and safety test and provide proof of test passage (the TRUST completion certificate) to the FAA or law enforcement upon request. www.faa.gov required by the FAA. There are also recreational model aircraft rules given by the FAA, which you have to follow. For those who own a drone that weighs less than 0.55 pounds or 250 grams, you have to pay a fee of five dollars to get it registered.
Federal law requires all recreational and commercial drones in Hawaii must be registered with the FAA.
Some of the other rules include the drone’s altitude, keeping an eye on your drone as you’re flying, the airspace, and more. If your drone is less than 0.55 pounds, you still have to register it for free. All commercial and recreational drones flown in Hawaii have to be registered based on federal law. Once you buy an impressive drone for a good price, you can get it registered and start flying.
Then, state drone laws were created by the Hawaii State Legislature, and they only apply to Hawaii. The Hawaii Department of Transportation regulates it, and there is only one law that governs the usage of drones, which is the SB 661 // 2015.
Under this law, there have been a few establishments to take note of. They include:
In the case of the local drone laws, Hawaii does not have any legislation that guides the flight of drones now, but it is expected that they will create some in the nearest future. The state has tried to pass local regulations to guide drone flight, like in 2019. This year, the law was SB622, which was directed towards banning all drone activities in the local region. Congress and the FAA were requested to ban these activities but allow the local authorities to regulate drone use.
Other laws were introduced in 2021, named SB680 and HB448, and stated that drone usage is an invasion of privacy. But, asides from regulating the use of drones in the state parks and natural area reserves, Hawaii does not have any other laws limiting the use.
You can’t fly your drones anywhere you want in Hawaii, so it’s important to note which places are the legal spots and those restricted. If you fly in areas with limited air spaces, you might get in trouble for breaking the laws.
Waikiki is open for you to fly your drones, but it is also named a very populated area, so you need to be careful. You can also fly your drones in the Maui, Oahu, and Kauai islands, but these places have restricted park areas, so it’s advisable to fly away from them and follow Kauai, Oahu, and Maui drone laws.
If you’re wondering where you can fly freely without worrying about parks or volcanoes in this state, here are some places you might like: Hanauma Bay, Makapu’u Beach, Sandy Beach, Laie Point, Magic Island, Maunalau Bay, Kualoa Regional Park, and Sunset Beach. You can also check out fishing lakes and enjoy catching fish with top drones. As long as you’ve passed the required test and your drone is registered, then you can freely fly your drones in these areas.
As the name implies, the Big Island is the largest island that covers most of Hawaii. There are a lot of fun things to do on the Big Island Trusted Source 14 Best Things To Do in Hawaii - The Big Island | Travel U.S. News Whether you’re looking to come face to face with molten lava or kaleidoscopic sand, you won’t have trouble finding ways to pass the time on the Big Island. travel.usnews.com , and you can take your drone with you. When flying your drone on the Big Island, you need to consider whether you are close to an airport or forest reserves because these places are known as no-fly zones. There are also volcano zones, restricted and only open to commercial, professional, and military pilots. But asides from these, there are a few places you can freely fly your drone.
A view of the Big Island in Hawaii
When flying your drone in Hawaii, you can operate it even safer with these helpful tips.
Now that you know the Hawaii drone laws and how you can safely fly in this state. First, you should learn the different rules, from the federal to the state drone laws. Also, follow the helpful tips to make sure your drone is entirely safe for flying.
As long as you fly in legal and safe places for flight, you can either enjoy it recreationally or commercially. You can take care of your work or enjoy your hobby in the beautiful islands of Hawaii, take pictures and videos, and enjoy the entire experience.
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