Licenses and Permits
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
Downloadable Form:
Aquaculture Dealer License Specific Terms and Conditions
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
Downloadable Form:
Aquaculture Facility License Specific Terms and Conditions
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 |
| Authority | HRS 188-45 |
| Where to Purchase | Online, In person |
Related Online Services:
Renew your license
New license application
Downloadable Form:
Bait License (non-Aku Boat) Specific Terms and Conditions
Bait (Nehu) License (Aku Boat or Live-bait Tuna Boat) Specific Terms and Conditions
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 (resident); $250 (non-resident) |
| 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 |
Related Online Services:
Renew your license
New license application
Add a license type
Submit a fishing report
Downloadable Form:
Commercial Marine Fisheries Individual License/Permit Renewal Application
Commercial License & Permit Specific Terms and Conditions (updated 08/31/21)
Commercial License & Permit General Terms and Conditions (revised 01/13/21)
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
Downloadable Form:
Kona Crab and Lobster Closed Season Sales License Specific Terms and Conditions
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 |
Downloadable Form:
Special Marine Animal or Product Possession and Sales License Specific Terms and Conditions
Lay Net Permit
Lay Net Permit
| Applies to | Lay net fishers |
| Fees | None (resident), $25 (non-resident) |
| Required for | Any person to use or possess a lay net in State waters. |
| Authority | HRS 188-75-12.4 |
| Where to Purchase | Online, In person |
| More information | Lay net FAQs, lay net marking directions |
Molokini Shoal MLCD Use Permit
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
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 | Resident and military 16 yrs and over $5; minors 9-15 yrs $3; non-resident $25; 7-day tourist $10; 30-day tourist $20; seniors 65 yrs and over free. |
| Required for | Any person to recreationally take any introduced freshwater game fish. |
| Authority | HRS 188-59 |
| Where to Purchase | Online, In person |
Related Online Services:
Purchase a freshwater game fishing license
Retrieve existing license
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 |
Related Online Services:
Purchase a freshwater game fishing license
Retrieve existing license
Special Activity Permit
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. |