Licenses and Permits

Commercial
Molokini Shoal MLCD Use Permit
Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Entry Permit
Recreational
Special Activity Permit

Commercial

Aquaculture Dealer License

Applies to	Dealers, retailers, wholesalers, restaurants
Fees	None
Required for	Any dealer, retailer, wholesaler, or restaurant to resell regulated marine life raised in a licensed aquaculture facility.
Authority	HRS 187-3.5, HAR 13-74-43
Where to Purchase	Online, In person

Related Online Services:
Renew your permit
New license application

Aquaculture Facility License

Applies to	Fish pond owners and operators
Fees	$50
Required for	Any fish pond owner or operator to take regulated marine life, including young mullet, from the ocean, or to acquire regulated marine life from non-ocean sources, to stock their pond or facility with the intention of raising the marine life for commercial purposes.
Required	Initial site inspection, Letter of authorization, Take report
Authority	HRS 187-3.5, HAR 13-74-43
Where to Purchase	Online, In person

Related Online Services:
Renew your permit
New license application

Bait License

Applies to	Commercial fishers
Fees	$50
Required for	Any commercial marine licensee to use a small mesh net to take iao, Marquesan sardine, nehu, piha, tabai, and threadfin shad as live bait. Any licensee employed on a live-bait tuna boat as their principle means of livelihood to use small mesh net to take nehu as live bait. The baitfish is to be used in the commercial fishing operation and its sale is prohibited.
Required	Commercial Marine License, Bait report
Authority	HRS 188-45
Where to Purchase	Online, In person

Related Online Services:
Renew your license
New license application
Submit a bait report

Bottomfish Fishing Vessel Registration

Applies to	Bottom fishers
Fees	None
Required for	Any vessel used to take or possess any of the Deep 7 bottomfishes for commercial or non-commercial purposes, must be registered and assigned an identification number with DAR. Vessel identification required.
Required	Commercial Marine License, Trip report
Authority	HAR 13-94
Where to Purchase	Online, In person

Related Online Services:
New Vessel Registration
Registration Renewal

Downloadable Form:
Annual Bottomfish Vessel I.D. Registration

Commercial Marine License

Applies to	Commercial fishers
Fees	$100
Required for	Any person to take (catch or harvest) marine life for commercial purposes. Includes persons providing vessel charter services.
Required	Catch report
Authority	HRS 189-2,3
Where to Purchase	Online, In person

Downloadable Form:
Commercial Marine Fisheries Individual License/Permit Renewal Application

Kona Crab/Lobster Closed Season Sales License

Applies to	Wholesaler, retailer, hotel/restaurant
Fees	$50
Required for	Any dealer or restaurant to sell or serve during the closed season any Kona crab or lobster lawfully caught during the open season.
Authority	HRS 188-57
Where to Purchase	Online, In person

Related Online Services:
Renew your license
New license application
Add a license type

Special Marine Product License

Applies to	Importers, wholesalers, retailers, restaurants
Fees	$50
Required for	Any importer, wholesaler, retailer, or restaurant to possess, sell, or offer for sale any marine animal or product obtained out of state and are prohibited or restricted by regulations.
Authority	HRS 189-6
Where to Purchase	Online, In person

Molokini Shoal MLCD Use Permit

Applies to	Molokini Shoal MLCD commercial operators
Fees	$50
Required for	Any commercial operator who conducts dive tours, charters, and other activities within Molokini Shoal MLCD.
Required	Documents
Authority	HAR 13-31
Where to Purchase	In person at DAR Maui Office

Additional Information:

Prohibited Areas for Surface-Supplied Air Diving (PDF)
Pre-trip Briefing and Acknowledgement (PDF)
Vessel Transfer or Change Form (PDF)
FAQ’s (PDF)

You must register with www.molokiniuse.com to use the new online data entry system, which replaces the former mandatory Molokini Use Log (Attachment C). Consult the Frequently Asked Questions for guidance.

For further information, see FAQ’s or call the Maui DAR office at 808-243-5294.

Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Entry Permit

Applies to	Persons desiring to enter Monument waters
Fees	None
Required for	All activities taking place within the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument.
Authority	HAR 13-60.5
Where to Purchase	By mail

Additional Information:
The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine Refuge (NWHI), requires an entry permit for all activities taking place in state waters (0-3 miles) in the NWHI. Permit applications and instructions can be downloaded from and current applications viewed at the Papahanaumokuakea Monument’s website.

Recreational

Bottomfish Fishing Vessel Registration

Applies to	Bottom fishers
Fees	None
Required for	Any vessel owner to take or possess any of the Deep 7 bottomfishes. Vessel identification required.
Authority	HAR 13-94
Where to Purchase	Online, In person

Related Online Services:
New Vessel Registration
Registration Renewal

Freshwater Game Fishing License

Applies to	Freshwater fishers
Fees	Vary
Required for	Any person to recreationally take any introduced freshwater game fish.
Authority	HRS 188-59
Where to Purchase	Online, In person, Authorized license agents

Wahiawa Public Fishing Area Entry Permit

Applies to	Freshwater fishers
Fees	None
Required for	Entry to fish in the Wahiawa Public Fishing Area (O’ahu).
Required	Freshwater Game Fishing License
Authority	HAR 13-62
Where to Purchase	Online, In person, Authorized license agents

Special Activity Permit

Applies to	Individuals
Fees	None
Required for	Any individual associated with any research, educational, or management institution to collect regulated aquatic organisms or resources, use regulated gear, or collect/conduct activities in regulated areas, for research, educational or management purposes.
Required	Annual reports with summary of activity conducted (e.g. description of activity, data collected, results, photos, GPS coordinates, etc.).
Authority	HRS 187A-6
Where to Apply	DAR has a new online portal to submit and track Special Activity Permit applications. Please register and create a user profile and answer the questions on the portal to submit an application. Remember to save frequently! Please refer to FAQ on the portal for questions or email [email protected] for assistance. For help with choosing locations to conduct your activity on the application, please refer to the links to maps in the FAQ to narrow down your specific location. For specific Kāne‘ohe Bay (O‘ahu) locations, please use this map of Kāne‘ohe Bay patch reefs.

Division of Aquatic Resources