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 21 weird laws in Hawaii will leave you scratching your head, wondering how exactly they came to be enacted.

1. On Kauai, it is illegal for buildings to be taller than a palm tree.
Scott Schiller/Flickr
I wonder how tall the average palm tree is.
2. When in a state park, you are not allowed to annoy the birds.
Edmund Garman/Flickr
I wonder what birds consider to be annoying.
3. Billboards were outlawed in the 1920s.
captplanetrocksmysocks/Flickr
Hawaii was the first state in America to do so, and we couldn't be happier with the lack of advertisements obstructing our views.
4. It is illegal to have more than one alcoholic drink in front of you at once.
Andym5855/Flickr
Here's to hoping this is one law that's not enforced!
5. Coins are not allowed to be placed in one’s ears.
Adam Cohn/Flickr
So much for that classic magic trick where you pull coins out of another person's ear...
6. While we’re talking about ears, it is also illegal to get a tattoo behind your ear or on your eyelid.
Steven Pisano/Flickr
Unless in the presence of a registered physician, of course.
7. Hawaii residents can actually be fined for not owning a boat.
Shawn Rossi/Flickr
Well, that's a pretty good reason to go buy a boat.
8. As of 2014, it became illegal for police officers to have sex with prostitutes during an investigation.
boaski/Flickr
I'm pretty shocked this one had to become an actual law.
9. A law dating to 1418 makes it illegal to sink the islands…
Jason Barles/Flickr
How exactly would one go about sinking an island?
10. It’s not legal to ride in the backseat of a car without a seatbelt, but if all the seats in the car are occupied, you are allowed to ride in the bed of a truck with no safety equipment.
Steve Baker/Flickr
Sure, makes perfect sense. Not.

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11. It is illegal to use imitation milk in a milkshake without warning.
new1mproved/Flickr
I wonder how much milk producers paid to enact that law.
12. It is unlawful for a shooting gallery to offer liquor as a prize.
Ryan Ozawa/Flickr
Because you don’t want the shooter to try again after consumption of said alcoholic beverage, of course.
13. In Hawaii’s Orakama Tribe, men are not allowed to eat their second wife.
Brian Talbot/Flickr
We're not sure about the first wife, though…
14. It is against the law to display captive dolphins and whales.
Justin De La Ornellas/Flickr
I’m not quite sure how Sea Life Park got around that one.
15. Breaking off mineral deposits and speleothems from a cave is unlawful.
Jeremy Nicoll/Flickr
Because we believe in preserving Hawaii’s natural beauty.
16. By law, twins are not permitted to work for the same company.
Angela Vincent/Flickr
Wonder who came up with this one.
17. Dynamite, poison, and electric currents are not to be used while fishing.
Wen-Ting Yang/Flickr
Sounds reasonable. We approve.
18. It used to be illegal for one to leave home without knowing where they were going.
Steven Worster/Flickr
Perhaps aimless driving leads to more accidents?
19. If you are in possession of a shark fin, you risk going to jail for an entire year.
Amy/Flickr
This may be a no-brainer, but feeding sharks is also illegal.
20. Apparently, it is illegal to appear in public wearing only swimming trunks.
www.bluewaikiki.com/Flickr
If this is an actual law, it is definitely not enforced.

Do any of these weird laws in Hawaii surprise you — or do you think some of them aren’t actually that weird or odd? What other interesting Hawaii laws do you know about? Share them with us in the comments below — we’re always up for learning fun facts and things about Hawaii!

Looking for more odd things about the Aloha State? Check out these weird food combinations that people from Hawaii just can’t get enough of….

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Weird laws in Hawaii

Sarah M. | August 12, 2022

What are some weird facts about Hawaii?

It's weird fact time, and boy, the Aloha State does not disappoint in this department. First up: the legend of Oahu's wallaby colony. A century ago, two wallabies escaped from a private zoo on Oahu. Allegedly, a small wallaby colony now inhabits the Kalihi Valley. Sightings are quite rare of the animals, which typically live in Australia and New Guinea. Visitors are asked to not look for the wallabies on their own, as they are delicate creatures. If you think wallabies in Hawaii are weird, then you'll love this next weird tidbit about Hawaiian menehune. Yes, menehune. You know, mystical dwarf-like creatures that reside in lush forests, far away from civilization? These two-foot-tall creatures are portrayed as mysterious, but also have excellent craftsmanship. According to legend, they can construct whatever they desire. They're actually credited with building the Menehune Fishpond on Kauai in just a single night. The truth is we're all a little unsure about the fish pond's creation. Finally, in terms of weird creatures that call the Aloha State home, there are, of course, mermaids. Legends abound about mermaids in Hawaii, from surfing mermaids to mermaids residing in sea caves. We 100% believe that mermaids are real, and may have even spotted a few of these enchanted beings at this spot in Hawaii...

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