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Hawaii County, HI Public Conduct: Public Alcohol Use (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Applies to
highways, sidewalks, lots, schools, most parks
Banned act
drinking OR displaying liquor in public view
Classification
petty misdemeanor
Max penalty
30 days jail, $1,000 fine
Permit exception
some parks, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Summary

Hawai'i County bans drinking or even displaying intoxicating liquor in public view on highways, sidewalks, parking lots, school grounds, and most public parks under HCC §14-1. A violation is a petty misdemeanor under §14-6, carrying up to 30 days in jail, a $1,000 fine, or both.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Hawaii County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

Section 14-1(a): No person shall drink, offer to drink, or display in public view in the following public areas or buildings located thereon, any intoxicating liquors, whether in a bottle, jug, container or otherwise: (1) Public highways and public rights-of-way, public sidewalks, public breakwaters and public seawalls, except seawalls in parks where drinking is not prohibited; (2) Public parking lots...; (3) Public school grounds and buildings; ... (5) Public parks, except parks enumerated in section 14-2, on which children's playground equipment, such as slides, jungle gyms, seesaws and swings are located. Section 14-6: A violation of this article shall constitute a petty misdemeanor... punishable by a term of imprisonment of not more than thirty days, a fine not to exceed $1,000, or both.

View official code

Full Breakdown

Section 14-1(a) prohibits drinking, offering to drink, or displaying in public view any intoxicating liquor, in a bottle, jug, container or otherwise, on public highways and rights-of-way, sidewalks, breakwaters and seawalls (except seawalls in parks where drinking isn't barred); the entire area of any County off-street parking lot; public school grounds, buildings, and adjoining areas; and public parks with children's playground equipment. Beyond those general categories, §14-1(a)(7) through (12) name dozens of specific parks and recreation areas by district, covering South Hilo, North and South Kona, Ka'ū, Puna, North Hilo/Hāmākua, and North and South Kohala, all separately banned.

with a permit rather than an outright ban. "Intoxicating liquor" is defined broadly, covering alcohol, beer, wine, and any spirituous or fermented liquid at half a percent alcohol by volume or more that's fit for drinking, and "public place" excludes duly licensed establishments regulated by the liquor commission. Because Hawai'i County has no cities, this single county-wide code applies the same way from Hilo's Bayfront parks to Kailua Village.

Violations & Fines

Any violation of Article 1 (Alcoholic Beverages), including drinking or displaying liquor in a banned public place, is a petty misdemeanor under §14-6, punishable upon conviction by up to thirty days' imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000, or both.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I drink a beer at a Big Island beach park?
It depends on the park. HCC §14-1 bans drinking at parks with playground equipment and at dozens of named parks across every district (South Hilo, Kona, Ka'ū, Puna, Hāmākua, Kohala); a handful of other parks instead fall under §14-2's permit system, which requires a permit to drink there between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m.
What counts as "public view" for the display ban?
Section 14-1 prohibits drinking, offering to drink, or displaying in public view any intoxicating liquor in a bottle, jug, container or otherwise on the listed public property, so carrying a visibly open container on a banned sidewalk or parking lot violates the section even without drinking it.
What's the penalty for an open-container violation?
Section 14-6 makes any violation of the alcoholic beverages article a petty misdemeanor, punishable upon conviction by up to thirty days in jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both.
Are public school grounds always off-limits?
Yes. Section 14-1(a)(3) and (4) ban drinking or displaying liquor on public school grounds and buildings and in public areas contiguous to them, with no permit exception available for that category.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Hawaii County

Parking Rules: Street Parking LimitsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: RV & Boat ParkingSome RestrictionsJaywalkingSome RestrictionsLoitering RulesSignificant RestrictionsPublic UrinationSome RestrictionsAggressive PanhandlingHeavy RestrictionsOutdoor Smoking RestrictionsSignificant RestrictionsSkateboarding RulesSignificant RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor SoundSome RestrictionsParking Rules: EV ChargingSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Material RestrictionsSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Fence Permit RequirementsSome Restrictions

All Hawaii County rules

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