Hawaii County, HI Special Events & Permits: Block Party Permits (2026)

3 bars anyone from blocking, closing, restricting or impeding traffic on any street, highway, time-limit parking stall or public right-of-way for parades, processions or any festive, religious, civic or other special activity unless a permit has been issued by the chief of police or the chief's authorized representative. The chief can revoke an issued permit immediately whenever there is reason to believe the activity endangers any person, vehicle or property on or off the closed area. 4 spells out the process: submit a written application to the chief of police no later than thirty days before the proposed event, describing the type of activity, date, time, number of participants, number and types of vehicles or floats, and location, with a map or drawing showing the affected streets and any alternate travel routes.

Construction-activity applications get a shorter thirty-day rule cut to fourteen days before the activity. The police chief forwards copies to all other affected agencies, which have seven days to submit comments or recommendations; failure to meet any condition set by those agencies, including the police department, is cause to deny the permit outright, and failure to comply with conditions after issuance triggers immediate revocation. Any hospital in or near the event location must be notified of the permit's issuance along with the time, date and location.

3(b) lets the county council, by resolution and in consultation with the chief of police and the director of public works, authorize the temporary closure of a county-owned roadway stub-out, dead-end or similar terminus, but only if the closure will not affect traffic flow or public access, adjacent landowners get written notice, and the barricade is needed to stop loitering, littering or other illegal activity; removing that barricade also requires a council resolution.