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HRS §281-79

Inspectors can enter licensed premises and penalties for blocking them

This section lets liquor investigators and police enter licensed premises to check for compliance. They can enter without a warrant if they suspect a violation. Anyone who blocks or threatens them can be fined or jailed. If refused entry, they can break in.

employees

The statute, as written — Entry for examination; obstructing liquor commission operations; penalty

Every investigator shall, and any officer having police power may, at all reasonable times, and at any time whatsoever if there is any reasonable ground for suspicion that the conditions of any license are being violated, without warrant enter into and upon any licensed premises and inspect the same and every part thereof, and any books or records therein, to ascertain whether or not all conditions of the license and all provisions of this chapter are being complied with by the licensee. If any investigator or officer, or any person called by the investigator or officer to the investigator's or officer's aid, is threatened with the use of violence, force, or physical interference or obstacle, or is hindered, obstructed, or prevented by any licensee, the licensee's employees, or any other person from entering into the premises, or whenever any investigator or officer is by any licensee, the licensee's employees, or any other person opposed, obstructed, or molested in the performance of the officer's duty in any respect, the licensee, the licensee's employee, or any other person shall be fined not more than $2,000 or imprisoned not more than one year, or both. Whenever any investigator or officer, having demanded admittance into any licensed premises and declared the investigator's or officer's name and office, is not admitted by the licensee or the person in charge of the premises, it shall be lawful for the investigator or officer to forcibly and in any manner to break into and enter the premises. [L Sp 1933, c 40, §49; RL 1935, §2618; RL 1945, §7267; RL 1955, §159-78; HRS §281-79; gen ch 1985; am L 1986, c 344, §15; am L 1990, c 171, §26; am L 2022, c 76, §8]
Read the official text at capitol.hawaii.gov ↗as published Jan 6, 2026our copy taken Aug 20, 2026

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