Tree Protection in Hawaii County, HI (2026)
2 rules for unincorporated Hawaii County, Hawaii.
Verified from official government sources
Heritage & Protected Trees
Hawai'i County designates individual trees or groves as protected "exceptional trees" for their historic, cultural, age, rarity, size, or aesthetic value. Once listed by the Council, it's unlawful for anyone, including a public agency, to substantially damage, remove, or destroy one, with fines up to $1,000 per tree.
Exceptional Tree Protection in Hawaii County
Some RestrictionsHawai'i County Code §§ 14-57, 14-63
Section 14-57: "exceptional trees" means a tree or grove of trees with historic or cultural value, or which by reason of its age, rarity, location, size, aesthetic quality, or endemic status has been designated by the council as worthy of preservation. The term exceptional trees does not apply to trees planted for commercial forestry operations. Section 14-63: It shall be unlawful for any perso...
Protected Tree Species
Hawai'i County does not protect tree species generally; it protects individually named "exceptional trees" that the County council has designated one by one under Code Article 10. Section 14-56 was enacted to safeguard these trees from destruction due to land development, and Section 14-57 limits the label to a tree or grove with historic, cultural, aesthetic, rarity, size or endemic significance.
Which Trees Are Protected in Hawaii County
Significant RestrictionsHawai'i County Code §§ 14-56, 14-57
In accordance with section 58-2, Hawai'i Revised Statutes, to safeguard exceptional trees from destruction due to land development, the County desires to enact protective regulations to preserve exceptional trees within the County. ... "exceptional trees" means a tree or grove of trees with historic or cultural value, or which by reason of its age, rarity, location, size, aesthetic quality, or ...
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