HRS §179D-2
Why this dam safety law exists
Read the official text at capitol.hawaii.gov ↗This law sets up state inspection and regulation of dams and reservoirs to keep people safe. The state board oversees all dams until it finishes inspections and creates rules for a five-year review process. Then it decides which dams no longer need state oversight.
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The statute, as written — Declaration of purpose
A copy, taken August 20, 2026. The version published by the Legislature is the one that governs, and it may have changed since. Check it before relying on anything here.
The purpose of this chapter is to provide for the inspection and regulation of construction, enlargement, repair, alteration, maintenance, operation, and removal of all dams or reservoirs to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of the State by reducing the risk of failure of the dams or reservoirs. The legislature finds and declares that the inspection and regulation of all dams or reservoirs are properly a matter of regulation under the police powers of the State, unless specifically exempted. The board shall have jurisdiction of all dams and reservoirs until the department has completed its statewide inspections and has established and implemented rules and criteria for a five year dams and reservoirs inspection and classification processes and the board declares which dams or reservoirs are to be removed from its jurisdiction.
LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.