Hawai'i County has no breed-specific ban. State law bars any county from deeming a dog dangerous or vicious based only on its breed, so pit bulls and other breeds are legal on the Big Island; dangerous-dog status is judged by behavior, not breed.
Unlike some mainland jurisdictions, the County of Hawai'i does not prohibit or restrict any dog breed. Hawaii's statewide framework is behavior-based: HRS 46-15.6 provides that a county may regulate dangerous dogs but may not deem a dog dangerous or vicious based solely on its breed, and a dog's breed shall not be considered in determining whether it is dangerous. A proposed statewide pit-bull ban (Senate Bill 79) was defeated. On the Big Island, dogs are controlled under HCC Chapter 4 and dangerous-dog complaints turn on the animal's conduct, such as biting or attacking, not its lineage.
There is no penalty tied to breed; a dog declared dangerous through its behavior faces confinement, muzzling or destruction orders and owner liability under state and county law.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Hawaii County, HI
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See how Hawaii County's breed restrictions rules stack up against other locations.
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