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HRS §803-43

Ban on secret listening devices and their ads

This law makes it a serious crime to make, own, sell, or advertise devices mainly used to secretly listen to or record calls or messages. Only phone or internet companies and law enforcement are allowed to have such devices. If you break this law, the device can be taken away.

everyone

The statute, as written — Devices to intercept wire, oral, or electronic communications and advertising of same prohibited; penalty; forfeiture

Any person, other than a provider of wire or electronic communication service and its duly authorized officers, employees, and agents, or any person acting under color of law, who, in this State, intentionally manufactures, assembles, possesses, or distributes, or who attempts to distribute, any electronic, mechanical, or other device, knowing or having reason to know that the device or the design of the device renders it primarily useful for the purpose of surreptitious interception of wire, oral, or electronic communications, or who intentionally places an advertisement of any such device or promotes the use of any such device in any newspaper, magazine, handbill, or other publication, shall be guilty of a class C felony. Any such electronic, mechanical, or other device in violation of this section shall be subject to seizure and forfeiture under chapter 712A.
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.