Hawaii County, HI Special Events & Permits: Park Event Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit trigger
- groups larger than 15 people (§15-50(a))
- Permitted hours
- 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. daily (§15-51)
- Issuing office
- Dept. of Parks and Recreation, Hilo
- Minor supervision
- 1 adult per 10 minors after 6 p.m. (§15-52)
- Max penalty
- $1,000 fine or 30 days jail (§15-7)
Summary
Any group larger than fifteen people that wants to reserve a picnic pavilion, lawn, or gathering space in a Hawai'i County park must get a picnic permit from the Department of Parks and Recreation's Hilo office. Permits run from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, and the county can deny a request for oversize groups, bad weather, or facilities under repair, per HCC §15-50.
(a) Any group larger than fifteen members shall be allowed to reserve specified space and facilities within a public picnic area by obtaining a picnic permit from the administrative office of the department of parks and recreation in Hilo or from any official designated by the department to issue such permits. Each permit shall reserve the space or facility in the desired picnic area for use on the stated date requested. (b) All permits shall be issued on a first-come, first-served basis but may be denied to any person when the use of the desired picnic area may be dangerous to the picnickers or unreasonably inconvenient to the department such as: (1) When the group is of an extraordinarily large size; (2) When severe weather conditions are threatening; (3) When there are inadequate facilities to meet the needs of the picnicker or picnickers; or (4) When repairs or improvements are being made to develop the picnic area.
Full Breakdown
HCC §15-50 governs reserving park space for a picnic, family gathering, or similar event: any group larger than fifteen people must get a picnic permit from the Department of Parks and Recreation's administrative office in Hilo, or from any staff member the department designates to issue permits, and the request can be made in person, by phone, or by mail. for the date requested, though the department can approve an earlier start for a special function, and the same hours apply to reserved pavilions and sheds.
Section 15-50(b) lets the department deny a reservation, on a first-come, first-served basis otherwise, for an extraordinarily large group, threatening weather, inadequate facilities, or a picnic area undergoing repairs or improvements. they need one supervising adult for every ten minors, unless the whole group is a single family with at least one parent present. Section 15-53 requires the permit holder to show the permit to any law enforcement officer, park caretaker, or department staff member on request. This picnic-permit track is separate from the parade and assembly permit in Article 3 and from the spectator-event permit in §15-36.
Violations & Fines
Reserving or occupying a picnic pavilion or gathering space for a group over fifteen people without the permit required by HCC §15-50, or refusing to show a valid permit on request under §15-53, is enforced under the chapter's general penalty, §15-7: a fine up to $1,000, imprisonment up to thirty days, or both.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big can my group be before I need a park event permit?
What hours can I use a reserved park pavilion?
Can Hawai'i County turn down my park reservation request?
Do minors need adult supervision at a permitted picnic?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hawaii County
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