Honolulu County, HI Public Conduct: Public Alcohol Use (2026)
Key Facts
- Prohibited locations
- Streets, sidewalks, parks, playgrounds, school grounds, city lots
- Enforcing agency
- Honolulu Police Department
- Max fine
- $1,000
- Max jail term
- 30 days
- Vehicle exception
- Consumption inside a vehicle on a public road
- Festival exception
- Kapiolani Park, one Aloha Week day, 3-9 p.m.
Summary
No one may possess an open container of intoxicating liquor on any Oahu street or sidewalk, or in any public park, playground, school ground, or public parking lot, under ROH § 41-1.2(a). Violators face Honolulu Police Department enforcement with a criminal fine up to $1,000, up to 30 days in jail, or both, under § 41-1.3.
§ 41-1.2 Prohibition in public areas—Exceptions. (a) No person shall possess, other than in a container in the manufacturer’s sealed condition, intoxicating liquor on any street or sidewalk, or in any public park, public playground, public school ground, public off-street parking area, or any building located thereon. (b) The prohibitions contained in subsection (a) shall not apply to: (1) Intoxicating liquor procured from a vendor dispensing intoxicating liquor pursuant to a permit or license issued by the city when the intoxicating liquor is possessed or consumed in a manner and in a place consistent with the terms and conditions of such permit or license; (2) The consumption or possession of an intoxicating liquor in a motor vehicle upon any public street, road, or highway; or (3) The possession of a container of wine authorized to be removed from liquor-licensed premises pursuant to HRS § 281-31(q); provided that the container has been corked or resealed.
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
2(a)). 23. Three statutory exceptions apply: liquor bought from a vendor operating under a city permit or license, when possessed or consumed consistent with that permit or license; possession or consumption inside a motor vehicle on a public street, road, or highway; and a corked or resealed wine bottle removed from licensed premises under HRS § 281-31(q). Subsection (c) further exempts city concessionaires' licensed premises at public golf courses, at Enterprise Services facilities, and at donor-funded memorial pavilions where a restaurant operates, subject to HRS Chapter 281 and any concession agreement.
Under subsection (d), the director of an enclosed outdoor theater in a public park may allow liquor consumption inside the fenced theater during a tenancy, under conditions the director sets. , provided the organization has the required park permits and a temporary liquor license. Enforcement is exclusively criminal: the Honolulu Police Department enforces the article, and an officer may make a physical arrest or issue a citation in lieu of arrest under HRS § 803-6.
Violations & Fines
A conviction under ROH § 41-1.3 is a criminal offense punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000, imprisonment for not more than 30 days, or both. The Honolulu Police Department enforces the ban, and officers may arrest a violator or issue a citation in lieu of arrest under HRS § 803-6 rather than making a physical arrest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drink alcohol inside my parked car on a Honolulu street?
Is there ever a legal way to sell alcohol in a Honolulu public park?
What happens if I'm caught drinking a beer at a Honolulu beach park?
Does bringing my own sealed bottle of wine to a park violate the ban?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Honolulu County
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