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HRS §271G-6

Who is exempt from water carrier rules

This section lists five groups of people or businesses that do not have to follow the water carrier rules in this chapter. These include people moving their own goods for their main business, nonprofit farm groups, certain private transport deals, fishing businesses, and sightseeing boats. The exemption does not apply if someone is trying to avoid the rules.

businesseslandowners

The statute, as written — - 6 Exemptions, generally

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, its contents shall not apply to: (1) Persons transporting their own property where the transportation is in furtherance of a primary business purpose or enterprise of that person except where the transportation is undertaken by a water carrier to evade the regulatory purposes of this chapter; (2) Nonprofit agricultural cooperative associations to the extent that they engage in the transportation of their own property or the property of their members; (3) Persons engaged in the transportation over water of passengers or property for compensation, other than transportation referred to in the definition of "water carrier" or "common carrier by water" in section 271G-5 under continuing contracts with one person or a limited number of persons for the furnishing of transportation services: (A) Through the assignment of vessels for a continuing period of time to the exclusive use of each person served; or (B) Designed to meet the distinct need of each individual customer; (4) Persons transporting their own property or employees where the transportation is in furtherance of a business or enterprise of fishing or taking of fish for profit or gain as a means of livelihood; or (5) Persons engaged in the business of transporting persons for sightseeing and other recreational activities.
Read the official text at capitol.hawaii.gov ↗as published Jan 6, 2026our copy taken Aug 20, 2026

Sections this one refers to

§271G-5 Definitions for water carrier law

LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.