Honolulu County, HI Homelessness & Encampment Rules: Sit-Lie Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Covered area
- Waikiki special district sidewalks
- Citation prerequisite
- Prior officer warning required
- Offense class
- Petty misdemeanor
- Key exceptions
- Medical emergency, wheelchair, expressive activity
Summary
In the Waikiki special district, no one may sit or lie on a public sidewalk or on bedding, chairs, or other items placed on it, with exceptions for emergencies, disabilities, and free speech.
No person shall sit or lie on a public sidewalk, or on a tarp, towel, sheet, blanket, sleeping bag, bedding, planter, chair, bench, or any other object or material placed upon a public sidewalk in the Waikiki special district. ... No person shall be cited for a violation of this section unless the person engages in conduct prohibited by this article after having been notified by a law enforcement officer that the conduct violates this section.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-10: Supplement 10, 12-2025 Ordinance No. 25-40 through Ordinance No. 25-56).
Full Breakdown
ROH Article 15 prohibits sitting or lying on a public sidewalk in the Waikiki special district, including on a tarp, blanket, sleeping bag, planter, chair, or bench placed there. Exceptions cover medical emergencies, wheelchair users, expressive activity, permitted street events, utility or government maintenance work, strollers, agency-placed benches, and people waiting in line who don't block pedestrian travel. A related article bans the same conduct during 5 a.m.-11 p.m. in Chinatown, Downtown, and McCully-Moiliili commercial zones outside Waikiki.
Violations & Fines
Petty misdemeanor punishable under HRS §§ 706-640 and 706-663; a citation may issue only after a law enforcement officer first warns the person that the conduct violates this section.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it illegal to sit on the sidewalk in Waikiki?
Can police cite someone the first time they see them sitting on a Waikiki sidewalk?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Honolulu County
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