In America, we like to think that laws are created for a reason — but sometimes there are laws that simply make no sense. While the beautiful Aloha State, along with the rest of the country, has several laws that were created with the utmost concern for public safety in mind, there are a few laws that are so obscure that not many people seem to know about them — even police officers. From outlawing activities that should be simple common sense to avoid, to laws that are clearly never enforced, these 14 laws in Hawaii will leave you scratching your head.

1. Billboards are outlawed.
David Evers/Flickr
This is one law we absolutely love, as billboards would simply distract from the beauty of our 'aina.
2. Coins are not allowed to be placed in one’s ears.
Adam Cohn/Flickr
3. An individual may only have one alcoholic drink in front of them at any given time.
Deepwarren/Flickr
4. In Hawaii, you might be fined for riding in the back seat of a vehicle with no seat belt, however, if all seats are already occupied, you can ride in the bed of a pickup truck — with no safety equipment — without being punished.
DiamondBack Truck Covers/Flickr
We're not too fond of this law, considering it goes against public safety goals.
5. Residents can actually be fined as a result for not owning a boat.
Tom Wilson/Flickr
We're glad this law isn't enforced!
6. It used to be illegal for one to leave home without knowing where they were going.
Keoni Cabral/Flickr
No aimless driving!
7. On Kauai, it is illegal for buildings to be taller than a palm tree.
Scott Schiller/Flickr
The average palm tree grows to be 10 to 15 meters tall, in case you were curious.

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8. It is illegal to annoy birds while visiting any public park in Honolulu.
Heather & Mike/zFlickr
I wonder what behavior birds would consider to be annoying.
9.It is unlawful to hoard more than 15 dogs and cats in a home.
Lee Martin/Flickr
Now this one makes sense.
10. Unless in the presence of a registered physician, it is illegal to get a tattoo behind your ear or on your eyelid.
Merlijin Hoek/Flickr
11. Apparently, there is a statute that forbids people in bathing suits from appearing uncovered on Waikiki streets.
Bombtwinz/Flickr
Now this law certainly isn't enforced at all!
12. By law, twins are not permitted to work for the same company.
Angela Vincent/Flickr
I wonder why...
13. If you are in possession of the fin of a shark, you can be imprisoned for one year. It is also illegal to feed sharks (for obvious reasons).
Kalanz/Flickr
This is one I don't wonder about.
14. It is also against the law to fish with poison, dynamite, or an electric current.
Aaron Goodman/Flickr
Someone must have tried this in the past.

As this list obviously showcases, the Hawaiian Islands sure do have some interesting laws… which of these laws in Hawaii do you think is the most bizarre? Sound off in the comments below, then click here to read about 21 Hawaiian laws that will leave you scratching your head in confusion.

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More to Explore

Hawaii Laws

Megan Shute | August 03, 2020

What things are illegal in Hawaii?

In addition to the outlaw of billboards, there are several things that are just plain illegal here in Hawaii, including annoying birds in public parks in the city of Honolulu, having more than one alcoholic beverage in front of you at any given time, and feeding sharks. Click here to read about some other crazy Hawaiian laws.

What places in Hawaii are illegal to visit?

The most famous illegal destination that comes to mind is the Stairway to Heaven, a rickety, old staircase that leads 3,922 steps up the side of a mountain to the now-abandoned Haiku Radio Station. Other illegal places to visit include this waterslide hiding in the heart of the Hawaiian jungle and these nine off-limits places.

What are some of Hawaii's most recently enacted laws?

The Aloha State has several unique laws, but there are two recent laws that everyone who visits the Hawaiian Islands should know about. In 2017, a law was passed that prohibits pedestrians from texting — or looking at their phones at all — while crossing the streets of Honolulu. Honolulu was the first major American city to put this law into effect, though the town of Fort Lee, New Jersey banned texting and walking five years ago. Another law, passed in 2019, cracks down on vacation rentals on the island of Oahu, so be sure to make sure that Airbnb is legal before booking!

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