Outdoor Burning: East Honolulu vs Kaneohe
How do outdoor burning rules compare between East Honolulu, HI and Kaneohe, HI?
East Honolulu and Kaneohe have similar restriction levels.
East Honolulu, HI
Honolulu County
All open burning in East Honolulu must comply with the Honolulu Fire Code: most categories require a letter to the fire department 14 days in advance and a 15-minute pre-light notice, and burning may be prohibited entirely when deemed a hazard.
View full East Honolulu rules →Kaneohe, HI
Honolulu County
Kaneohe prohibits trash burning and tightly restricts open burning. Cooking fires and imu need 15-minute HFD notice; recreational fires require a 14-day letter to AHJ; agricultural burns additionally need a State DOH Clean Air Branch permit.
View full Kaneohe rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | East Honolulu | Kaneohe |
|---|---|---|
| Code Section | ROH Sec. 10.11.1.1 | - |
| Permitted Categories | 7 listed (cooking, recreational, hazard, etc.) | - |
| State Overlay | HAR Ch. 11-60.1 (DOH open burning) | - |
| - | - |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
East Honolulu FAQ
What kinds of open burning are allowed in East Honolulu?
Only the seven categories listed in ROH Section 10.11.1.1: cooking food, recreational/decorative/ceremonial fires, abating a fire hazard, disease or pest control, firefighter training, disposal of dangerous materials, and residential bathing.
Does cooking in an imu require notice?
Yes. For cooking fires not contained within an appliance, such as an imu, the responsible person must notify the HFD Fire Communication Center 15 minutes before lighting.
Kaneohe FAQ
Can a Kaneohe farm burn crop residue?
Only with a DOH Clean Air Branch permit and compliance with ROH Chapter 20; HFD may still impose seasonal burn bans.
Can I burn fallen branches after a storm?
Green waste generally cannot be burned without a DOH permit. Most Kaneohe residents take storm debris to transfer stations.
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