Who Needs a Boating License in Hawaii
Hawaii requires all operators of motorized vessels exceeding 10 horsepower to hold a boater-education card, regardless of birth year or age. The state issues the DOBOR Boater Safety Education Card (BSEC) upon completion of an approved course. NASBLA-certified or state-approved boater safety course certificates are accepted as valid credentials.
Operators under 16 years old must hold the card and be directly supervised by a certified adult 21 or older while operating a motorboat. A minimum age of 15 applies to thrill craft (personal watercraft). Hawaii recognizes boater-education cards issued by other states, so residents with out-of-state credentials meeting Hawaii's standards should be compliant. Operators should confirm current requirements and any recent regulatory updates with the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation, as regulations may change.
| Detail | As the state publishes it |
|---|---|
| Education card required? | Education card required |
| Who needs it | none - applies to all operators of motorized vessels over 10 hp regardless of birth year |
| Minimum operating age | no statewide minimum for a motorboat (under-16 operators must hold the card and be directly supervised by a certified adult 21+); 15 minimum for a thrill craft (PWC) |
| Accepted credential | DOBOR Boater Safety Education Card (BSEC); NASBLA-/state-approved course certificate |
| Reciprocity (other states' cards) | yes |
| Rental / livery rule | Rental/livery operators must give renters a state-approved safety briefing; briefed renters are exempt from the education-certificate requirement |
| Fees | DOBOR card (BSEC) is free; course/exam vendor fees may apply |
| Administering agency | Hawaii DLNR, Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR) |
Do you need a licence in Hawaii? → · How to get licensed →
Compiled from the official state source, cross-referenced against NASBLA, and verified June 2026. Always confirm the current rule on the official Hawaii DLNR, Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR) page before you rely on it — boating law changes and some states are mid-rollout. How we compile this. Informational only, not legal advice.