HCC §4-9-1
Dog owners must get a summons and can post bail
Read the official text at hawaiicounty.gov ↗If a dog is running loose and breaks the rules in articles 3 or 4 or state law chapter 143, the officer who catches the dog must give the owner or the person in charge a summons. The summons tells them to go to the violations bureau of the district court. They have seven days to post bail, and if they don't show up in court, they lose the bail.
everyone
The ordinance, as written (Hawaiʻi County) — Enforcement
A copy, taken August 21, 2026. The version published by Hawaiʻi County is the one that governs, and it may have changed since. Check it before relying on anything here.
For any violation of any of the provisions of articles 3 or 4, or of the provisions of chapter 143, Hawai‘i Revised Statutes, it shall be the duty of any officer authorized to seize and impound any dog running at large within the meaning of this article to issue a summons to the owner or other person charged with the responsibility of complying with the provisions of articles 3 or 4, or with the provisions of chapter 143, Hawai‘i Revised Statutes. Said summons shall instruct such owner or person to report at the violations bureau of the respective district courts of the third circuit. Each such owner or person may, within seven days after the receipt of such summons, appear at such violations bureau and post a bail bond, in such amounts as may be set by the administrative judge of the district courts, for appearance on the date as may be set for such person to appear before the district court. Upon failure to appear upon such date, said bail bond shall be deemed forfeited. (1986, ord 86-34, sec 6; am 2022, ord 22-36, secs 16 and 17.)4-9-1
Published by the County of Hawaiʻi Office of the County Clerk.
LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.