How to Get Your Hawaii Hunting License
Hawaii requires all hunters born after December 31, 1971, to complete an approved hunter education course before buying a hunting license, and hunters born on or before that date need it too unless they can prove they held a Hawaii hunting license before July 1, 1990. The course itself isn't required to purchase a license for that narrow exempt group.
A resident hunting license costs $10, while a non-resident license costs $95. Licenses are sold through the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Forestry and Wildlife online or through a registered vendor, and every Hawaii hunting license runs on the same fiscal year, expiring every June 30 regardless of purchase date.
This guide walks you through how to get your Hawaii hunting license and Hunter Education Certificate, step by step.
What Is a Hunting License in Hawaii?
A Hawaii hunting license is the base document DLNR requires before you can pursue any game species in the state, and it comes bundled with a free Wildlife Conservation Stamp for game mammal hunting. A license alone doesn't get you into the field, though: you also need an area-specific access permit for the public hunting unit you plan to use, and a separate Game Bird Stamp if you're after game birds.
Your Hunter Education Certificate is a different document entirely. It proves you completed a DLNR-approved safety course, and once you earn it, it never expires. Your license, by contrast, is only good through June 30 of the fiscal year you bought it in.
Who Needs a Hunting License in Hawaii?
Hawaii requires a hunting license for residents and non-residents of any age who hunt in the state, with even hunters 15 and younger needing their own license alongside adult supervision.
Hunter education works on a separate track from the license itself. Anyone born after December 31, 1971, must complete an approved hunter education course before buying a license, unless they qualify for Hawaii's narrow exemption instead:
- Age 10 through 15: Complete hunter education, then buy a license and hunt alongside a licensed adult who isn't hunting themselves.
- Age 16 and older, born after December 31, 1971: Complete hunter education, then purchase a standard Resident ($10) or Non-Resident ($95) license.
- Born on or before December 31, 1971, with proof of a pre-1990 Hawaii license: Exempt from hunter education, but still needs a current license to hunt.
- 65 and older (resident): Eligible for a free hunting license; non-residents 65 and older get a reduced-fee license instead.
How to Get Your Hawaii Hunting License (Step-by-Step)
Getting licensed in Hawaii comes down to a few main steps, though the order shifts slightly depending on your age and hunting history. Here's the full process from start to finish.
- Complete an approved hunter education course if you were born after December 31, 1971, or can't prove a pre-1990 Hawaii license.
- Purchase your license through the DLNR website or a registered vendor.
- Select your license type: resident ($10), non-resident ($95), or a reduced-fee or free option if you're 65 or older.
- Add a Game Bird Stamp and the access permit for the specific hunting unit you plan to use.
- Carry your digital or printed license, plus your Hunter Education Certificate, any time you hunt.
Once you've completed these steps, you're fully licensed and ready for the field. The sections below cover the hunter education course and license purchase in more detail.
Step 1: Complete an Approved Hunter Education Course
Hawaii is one of the few states where the standard online course has no field day at all, letting most hunters finish certification start to finish on a phone or computer.
- Online course (age 10 and older): The Hunter-Ed Hawaii course costs $24.95. Pass the final exam and print your Online Course Completion Voucher immediately; your permanent certificate will be mailed within 1 to 3 weeks.
- In-person classroom course: A free course offered on Hawaii, Lanai, Maui, Kauai, Molokai, and Oahu, taught by DLNR-trained volunteer instructors.
Non-residents who already hold an out-of-state hunter education card can skip the course entirely by requesting a free Letter of Exemption from DLNR instead. Whichever path you take, your Hawaii Hunter Education Certificate never expires.
Step 2: Purchase Your License
Once you have your Hunter Education Certificate or Letter of Exemption, if it applies to you, you can buy your license through the DLNR licensing portal, from a Division of Forestry and Wildlife office, or through a registered vendor.
You'll need a government-issued photo ID, proof of hunter education if required, and payment.
Step 3: Add Permits and Go Hunting
A Hawaii hunting license by itself doesn't get you into the field. You still need an area access permit for the specific public hunting unit you plan to use, plus a Game Bird Stamp if you're after game birds.
Once your license and any needed permits are in hand, you're ready to hunt.
Hawaii Hunting License Requirements by Age
Here's a high-level overview of the requirements for hunting licenses in Hawaii by age.
Hawaii Hunting License Requirements (by Age) | ||
| Age | Requirement | Supervision/Hunter Education |
| Under 10 | No hunting license available | Minimum age to complete hunter education and hold a license is 10 |
| 10 through 15 | Resident ($10) or Non-Resident ($95) | Must be accompanied by a licensed adult who isn't hunting |
| 16 and older, born after Dec. 31, 1971 | Resident ($10) or Non-Resident ($95) | Hunter education required before purchase |
| Born on or before Dec. 31, 1971, with pre-1990 Hawaii license | Resident ($10) or Non-Resident ($95) | Hunter education not required |
| 65 and older | Free (resident) or reduced-fee (non-resident) | Requires proof of age |
Privileges and stamps: A Wildlife Conservation Stamp comes free with every license, but game bird hunters need a separate Game Bird Stamp ($10). Every hunter also needs an area-specific access permit for the public hunting unit they plan to use, and species like axis deer require an additional tag on top of the base license.
Season dates and bag limits vary by island and hunting unit, so check before you plan a hunt.
Hunter Safety Course: Format and Cost
Hawaii's online course skips the field day entirely, a rare setup that lets hunters as young as 10 finish certification without ever leaving home. The chart below offers a quick overview of both formats.
Hawaii Hunter Safety Course Formats Comparison | ||||
| Format | Provider | Cost | Time | Exam |
Online (age 10 and older) | Hunter-Ed | $24.95 | About 3 to 4 hours, self-paced | Final exam only (immediate completion voucher) |
In-Person Classroom | DLNR volunteer instructors | Free | Varies by island and class | Written exam included in course |
Once you're certified through either format, that credential is good for life and requires no renewal. Only your Hawaii hunting license needs replacing, and that happens every year when it expires on June 30.
The Documents You Need To Buy Your License
Make sure you have the right documentation handy to purchase your Hawaii hunting license. You'll need:
- A government-issued photo ID
- Proof of your Hunter Education Certificate, or a Letter of Exemption if applicable
- Payment (card online or in person)
- Proof of Hawaii residency, if applying for resident rates
Hawaii Hunting Laws and Penalties
Hunting-related violations of Hawaii's game laws are typically petty misdemeanors, punishable by a mandatory fine of at least $100 or up to 30 days in jail for a first offense. There's a mandatory minimum of $500 for a second conviction within five years, plus firearm forfeiture.
Anyone convicted of violating a game law also has their hunting license immediately forfeited, and a second conviction bars them from getting a new license for three years.
More serious wildlife violations, including illegal deer possession or release, are misdemeanors carrying mandatory fines starting at $10,000 for a first conviction and rising to $25,000 for a third or subsequent offense within five years. Note that Hawaii is the only state not part of the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact, so a Hawaii hunting violation doesn't automatically affect your license privileges in other states.
What About Reciprocity?
Hawaii accepts hunter education certificates from any U.S. state, Canadian province, or country that meets International Hunter Education Association (IHEA-USA) standards. States and provinces with their own mandatory hunter education requirements return the favor and accept a Hawaii Hunter Education Certificate, so your card travels with you if you hunt elsewhere.
What Out-of-State Visitors Should Know
Non-resident hunters pay $95 for an annual license, and first-time non-resident buyers must submit a Non-Resident Exemption Request before completing checkout.
Non-residents who already hold an out-of-state hunter education card can request a free Letter of Exemption instead of retaking Hawaii's course, while those without a qualifying card pay the same $24.95 course fee residents do.
Start Your Hawaii Hunter Safety Course Today, Then Get Your Hunting License
Ready to get certified? The Hunter-Ed Hawaii course is approved by the DLNR, self-paced, and available on any device, with no in-person field day currently required. Complete the course and get your lifetime Hawaii hunter education certificate.
Approved by Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) | Last verified August 12, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: How much does a hunting license cost in Hawaii?
A: A resident hunting license in Hawaii costs $10, while a non-resident license costs $95, both valid through June 30 of the fiscal year purchased. Both prices include a free Wildlife Conservation Stamp, though game bird hunters need to add a separate $10 Game Bird Stamp.
Q: Do I need hunter education to hunt in Hawaii?
A: Yes, Hawaii requires hunter education for anyone born after December 31, 1971, before they can buy a hunting license. Hunters born on or before that date are only exempt if they can prove they held a Hawaii hunting license before July 1, 1990.
Q: Is a field day required for the online hunter safety course in Hawaii?
A: No, Hawaii's online hunter safety course has no field day or in-person component at all for hunters age 10 and older. The full certification process, including the final exam, happens entirely online through Hunter-Ed.
Q: Can a 12-year-old hunt in Hawaii?
A: A 12-year-old can hunt in Hawaii after completing hunter education and buying a hunting license, since Hawaii requires a license starting at age 10 rather than exempting young hunters. They must be accompanied by a licensed adult who isn't hunting themselves.
Q: Does Hawaii's hunter education certificate work in other states?
A: Yes, a Hawaii Hunter Education Certificate is accepted in any U.S. state, Canadian province, or country with a mandatory hunter education requirement that meets IHEA-USA standards. This reciprocity means Hawaii-certified hunters generally don't need to retake a course before hunting elsewhere.
Q: What's the penalty for hunting without a license in Hawaii?
A: Hunting-related license violations in Hawaii are typically petty misdemeanors, carrying a mandatory fine of at least $100 or up to 30 days in jail for a first offense. A conviction also results in immediate forfeiture of your hunting license, and a second offense within five years bars you from getting a new one for three years.
