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HRS §7-2

Driftwood

This section says that any wood that washes up on any beach in Hawaii belongs to the person who finds it. You can take it for your own use without paying the State. It does not apply to wrecked or stranded vessels.

everyone

The statute, as written — Driftwood

All wood of any description which may drift on to the beach of any part of the State shall be the property of the finder, and anyone finding such driftwood may take the same for the finder's own private use, without paying a share to the State; provided that this section shall not be construed to apply to any vessel wrecked or stranded on any part of the shores of the State. [CC 1859, §1478; RL 1925, §577; RL 1935, §1695; RL 1945, §12902; RL 1955, §14-2; HRS §7-2; gen ch 1985]
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.