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Hawaii’s Boater Education Requirements

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Hawaii’s Boater Education Requirements

According to Hawaii’s boater education requirements, any person operating a motorized boat with an engine that is greater than 10 horsepower must have completed a NASBLA-approved Boater Safety Education Course. They must carry the Boater Education Certificate during boat operation.

Hawaii’s Boater Education Exemptions include:

Persons with current merchant mariner credentials issued by the United States Coast Guard (USCG).
Persons operating a thrill craft within a commercial thrill craft zone.
Persons who began their boating trip outside of Hawaii and who will be boating on Hawaii’s waters for less than 60 days.

Hawaii’s Age and Horsepower Restrictions

Persons under 16 years of age may operate a motorized boat so long as they have obtained and are carrying a Certificate from a NASBLA-approved Boater Safety Education Course and are being supervised by a person who has obtained a boating safety certificate through a NASBLA-approved course and is 21 years of age or older.

If a person does not meet these requirements (i.e. has not obtained a certificate) they must complete a state-approved safety briefing offered by a rental agency.

Hawaii’s Restrictions for Thrill Craft Operators

Any person operating a thrill craft must have completed a NASBLA-approved course AND have completed a thrill craft certification course accredited by an institution of higher education. Both certificates must be carried on board the thrill craft during operation.

Age Restrictions for Thrill Craft Operators

A person under 16 years of age may operate a thrill craft so long as:

They have completed a NASBLA-approved Boating Education Course,
They have completed the thrill craft course,
AND they are accompanied by a person who is at least 21 years of age who has also completed all of the course requirements.

For more information on Hawaii’s boater education requirements and boating regulations, visit Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources Wesbite.