You may trim your own trees. For trees and vegetation along county roads, Public Works' Highway Maintenance Division handles roadside trimming and clearance. Designated exceptional trees need county review before any trimming that could destroy them.
The County of Hawai'i has no general permit to trim your own ornamental trees on private property. Trees and brush along county roads fall to the Department of Public Works Highway Maintenance Division, which is 'responsible [for] roadside maintenance of trees and vegetation' plus vegetation management for flood control. Trimming near power lines is coordinated with the utility (HELCO). The one hard limit: a tree the county has designated an 'exceptional tree' under HRS Chapter 58 requires special county review before any work that could destroy it, so heavy trimming of such a tree is not a do-it-yourself job.
Damaging or destroying a designated exceptional tree can trigger county review and injunctive relief under HRS Chapter 58; owners are otherwise responsible for their own tree upkeep.
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See how Hawaii County's tree trimming rules stack up against other locations.
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