Which Hawaiian Islands are off-limits to Non-Hawaiians?
Filed under: 808Talk Answers, Hawaii - general, Laws-Rules
Cindy from Ontario, Canada asks
I heard someone say before that some of the Hawaiian islands are off limits to non-Hawaiians. Is this true or false? If this is true, can you explain briefly or direct me to information about the island or islands and why it or they are off limits?
Hi Cindy,
There is one island that is mostly off-limits to the general public but still populated. That island is Niihau, a small island just North of Kauai. Basically, it was bought in 1864 by a private landowner from the then Kingdom of Hawaii, and her family still owns it. There are about 160 people living on the island and most are Hawaiian. They intentionally maintain their isolation and perpetuate Hawaiian culture and traditions. More detailed information anout the history and people of Niihau is available at JaneResture.com and at Wikipedia.
There are companies who have rights to do some minor tours on and around the island of Niihau. Here’s a good listing of them at Hawaii Travel Newsletter.
There is another island that is visitor-restricted but no one lives there. It is called Kahoolawe and is located just off the South shore of Maui. Maybe someday we’ll be able to visit it, but for now it is off-limits to just about everyone. It was used by the military for training and target practice for decades, but now it is being cleaned up. Extensive information is available at Wikipedia.
Hawaii’s Restrictions on Underage Drinking for Vacationers from other Countries
My friend and I are travelling to Hawaii (Waikiki) from Australia in March this year. My question is about the drinking restrictions in Hawaii. We are both just a few months under the age of 21 unfortunately. Although I was wondering if we’re able to bring alcohol into the country? We are legally allowed to purchase alcohol in our own country so is it acceptable that we bring it in with us? Will customs take it off us when we arrive?
No, I don’t think that in the eyes of the law it is acceptable for you to have it in this country, since you will be expected to follow the other laws of our country while you are here. However, no one is going to search your hotel room for liquor and as long as you are not breaking any laws that people can see or hear (giving the police reason to come to you) the police are not going to come into your hotel room — so just “having” liquor you bought legally is probably not a problem (I’m not a lawyer and I don’t really know diddly-squat, I’m just theorizing here). So, my opinion is, it’s probably *not* OK for you to have liquor here, but no one is going to bother you about it in the privacy of your own room … so now the real crux of the question is whether someone at the airport will take it from you.
Well, I wish I could answer this question for you but I just don’t feel comfortable doing so. I don’t know the answer … I could call customs and ask them their policy, but, based on past experience, I could easily get an answer that is not the truth because the person I am talking to may not know or care. I would hate for you to get in trouble or have your stuff taken away based on something I said. Maybe you could contact customs by email and see if you are satisfied with the answer? Good luck!
Are Bonfires allowed on Hawaii Beaches?
Filed under: Big Island, Big Island Beaches, Camping, Hawaii - general, Laws-Rules
My fiance and I are planning a wedding at the Mauni Lani in February. We’ve scoured the web to see if we can host an informal bonfire on a beach one of the nights we are there? Do you know or can you point us to anyone that would know how to accomplish this? thanks!
Well, I’ve been calling the local DLNR and state parks departments and have gotten quite the runaround. No one seems to know or wants to tell me. I do know I’ve never seen a bonfire on any beach ever. I did find a reference on the Internet from the fire department that says they are prohibited, and I also found another reference from the state parks department that says you have to have a camping permit. My advice is for you to contact the Mauna Lani. Their beach is private in places, I believe, so maybe they can give you permission. If that doesn’t work, check with the concierge. He or she should be able to give you a definite answer, or maybe make arrangements for you. Just be aware that some beaches fall under the state, and some under the county, so who you need to get permission from will change from beach to beach. Good luck and congratulations!