Drink-driving limits in Hawaii (2026)

Last reviewed: 29 October 2026

In short: Drink-driving limits and penalties in this state are set by state law. They are still being checked.

Rule	What applies
Random breath tests without suspicionDriving after drinking alcohol	⚠ Not yet verified
Blood alcohol limit for ordinary driversDriving after drinking alcohol	0.08 % blood alcohol ^[1]
Lower limit for novice or young driversDriving after drinking alcohol	It is unlawful for a person under 21 to operate any vehicle with a measurable amount of alcohol; the usual penalty includes a licence suspension of 180 days. ^[2]
Maximum penaltiesDriving after drinking alcohol	First offence (no conviction within the previous ten years): a minimum 14-hour substance abuse rehabilitation programme; licence revocation of one year to eighteen months with an ignition interlock device on all vehicles operated; and any one or more of 72 hours of community service, 48 hours to 5 days of imprisonment, or a fine of $250 to $1,000. Longer terms and more severe penalties apply to repeat offences, a passenger under 15 and highly intoxicated drivers. ^[3]
Limit for professional or commercial driversDriving after drinking alcohol	0.04%: driving a commercial motor vehicle with an alcohol concentration of 0.04 or more grams per 210 litres of breath or per 100 millilitres of blood is a listed commercial-driver violation that must be recorded on the driving record. ^[4]

Notes

The state's official statute pages could not be read in this round, so nothing is stated for this field.
Read from an Internet Archive snapshot of the official statute page (8 July 2026). The subsection is marked for repeal and reenactment on 30 June 2028.
Taken from the list of violations that Hawaii records for commercial drivers (HRS 286-245); the disqualification section 286-240 was only readable in an old copy. The copy read is an Internet Archive snapshot of 22 March 2025 and may predate later amendments.

These rules are set at national level in the United States and apply here too, alongside the rules above. All national rules for the United States

Limit for professional or commercial drivers	0.04% alcohol concentration or more: a driver subject to commercial driver's licence rules must not report for or remain on duty performing safety-sensitive functions, and an employer who knows of it must not let the driver continue. (source: Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (Office of the Federal Register))

Cannabis
Car speed limitsBuilt-up areas: Set by county ordinance or signs · Outside built-up areas (single carriageway): Set by county ordinance or signs
Minimum age for a car driving licenceMinimum age for a car licence: 16 (provisional licence) · Earliest age to drive a car supervised: 15½ (instruction permit)
E-bikes and speed pedelecsLegal class: Class 1-3 · Minimum age: Class 2/3: 16 or supervised
FireworksConsumers may buy and use category F2 fireworks: Oahu: No (firecrackers with permit) · Minimum age to buy: Oahu: 18 (firecracker permit)
Knives and pepper sprayLocking or one-handed knives: Switchblade or butterfly knife: concealed carry banned
Statutory minimum wageNational statutory minimum wage: Yes · Current adult minimum wage (gross): $16.00 per hour
Using a mobile phone while drivingHolding a phone while driving banned: Banned (holding) · Hands-free use: Allowed (not under 18)
Seat belts and child seatsSeat belt compulsory in front seats: Yes, all seats · Seat belt compulsory in rear seats: Yes, all seats
Tobacco and nicotine age limitsMinimum age to buy tobacco: 21 · Minimum age to buy e-cigarettes: 21
Drinking age and alcohol salesMinimum age to buy beer and wine: 21 · Minimum age to buy spirits: 21

General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.