Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation

To renew, you will need one of the following:

• Vessel registration number (Format: HA XXXX XX)
• Hull I.D. Number (12-character alphanumeric code)
• Owner name

You will also need a valid credit card or a debit card (MasterCard or Visa).  Any person may pay for renewal fees on behalf of another as long as one of the above identifiers is provided.  Only owners may handle tasks related to title and ownership except where an owner’s agent is authorized by a valid power of attorney or equivalent legal document.

To update your address, please contact DOBOR at (808) 587-1970 or at [email protected]. If you will be submitting an address change, you must contact DOBOR before completing your renewal online in order to receive an updated registration showing your new address.  You may also use the “Report Changes” link to report your address change if your vessel is not due for renewal.

Please be aware that fees may be assessed for printing of new documents.

Data on your vessel’s characteristics, collected through the registration process, may be shared with DOBOR’s partner agencies. Data sharing is conducted to facilitate research and resource management. You may be asked to participate in future surveys about how you use your vessel. Your participation and response to these surveys is voluntary.

In addition to vessel characteristic data, some confidential owner information must be shared with the U.S. Coast Guard for vessel registry purposes under federal law. Information collected by the U.S. Coast Guard is kept confidential and is not released publicly. Other than the U.S. Coast Guard, confidential owner information is only shared with law enforcement for official use or pursuant to a court order.

No, Hawaii law prohibits having both a registration and documentation for a vessel at the same time. If you are bringing a vessel from documentation to registration, you must present DOBOR with evidence of proper deletion from documentation.

Most hardware and home improvement stores sell the lettering that can be used for vessel numbers.

Vessel trailers are handled by the county DMV where the trailer is located. DOBOR only handles registration and titling of vessels. Trailer safety checks may be completed at the same stations that handle safety checks for your vehicle.

DOBOR staff is usually able to process renewals within five (5) business days of receiving payment and any supporting documentation (if applicable). If you have not received your new registration in the mail within twenty (20) business days after making payment, please contact our office at (808) 587-1970 or [email protected]. If there are issues with your renewal, staff will contact you to resolve the issues.

You may order a replacement registration card and/or decals. There will be a $10.00 charge for each replacement.

Unfortunately, yes. Once the registration card and/or decals are mailed, they are deemed delivered after 5 business days unless returned to our office as undeliverable.

Yes, please be sure to identify your vessel by registration number (“HA” number) or hull I.D. number in the check memo or on the envelope containing your check payment. Please make checks payable to “DLNR Boating”. Please be aware that there may be increased processing times if paying by mailed check.

Vessel ownership can only be transferred via the original title issued for the vessel. Notarization of seller(s) signature(s) is optional on vessel titles. If you do not have a vessel title, you must obtain one; a bill of sale is no longer accepted to transfer ownership, except for certain out-of-state vessels or in certain situations where the vessel has not been titled yet.

Out-of-state vessels may remain in Hawaii waters for sixty (60) calendar days before the owner will be required to obtain a Hawaii title and registration. If the previous state was a vessel title state, the original vessel title is required to obtain a Hawaii vessel title. If the previous state was not a vessel title state, the vessel registration or other equivalent ownership document is required to obtain a Hawaii title.

If you are launching your vessel from a trailer and/or parking your boat trailer at any state launch ramp facilities, you will need to purchase and properly display a launch ramp decal.

Yes, but please be aware that launch ramp decals are specific to the trailer that they are affixed to. If you are able to launch all your vessels from one trailer, you would only need to purchase a launch ramp decal for that single trailer. If you require separate trailers to launch your vessels, you must purchase a launch ramp decal for each trailer.

Yes, please visit vessel.ehawaii.gov to purchase a standalone ramp decal for your documented vessel.

Registration and titling of manually powered kayaks is optional. Kayaks with motors producing five (5) horsepower and greater must be registered and titled.

Yes, if you plan to launch your kayak from a state launch ramp, whether from a trailer or not.

Yes, as of September 2020, all e-foils must be registered for use in Hawaii waters. Non-motorized foilboards do not need to be registered.

For payments made through a dealership, you will receive a temporary registration valid for sixty (60) days, along with decals. You will receive your permanent registration card in the mail within three (3) to six (6) weeks.

Completion of a State-approved boating safety course is required for all persons operating a motorized vessel with more than ten (10) horsepower in Hawaii waters. Persons under the age of sixteen (16) operating a motorized vessel must have completed a State-approved boating safety course and must also be under the supervision of a person at least twenty-one (21) years old who has also completed a State-approved boating safety course. Demonstration of hands-on proficiency is not required in boating safety courses. Private courses may be available for hands-on vessel training.

Personal watercraft (aka jet skis/thrill craft/PWCs) require additional safety education. Basic boating safety education is a prerequisite to the jet ski education course. No person under the age of fifteen (15) may operate a personal watercraft in Hawaii waters.

Registration renewal notices are sent out approximately three (3) months before expiration. Registration cannot be renewed earlier than three (3) months in advance of the expiration date. Registration can only be renewed for one year at a time.

If there are other co-owners on the vessel title and all owners have signed the declaration of joint ownership, any of the other co-owners may present a valid death certificate and receive an updated title in the remaining co-owners’ names. Fees may be assessed for updated titles and registrations.

If the declaration of joint ownership was not signed or if there was only a single owner on the vessel title, the owner’s authorized personal representative(s) must present a valid death certificate and documentation showing proper legal authorization to act on the owner’s behalf. Documentation may include, but is not limited to a will or court order.

You must provide our office with evidence that the hull has been destroyed. This can consist of pictures, a report from the scrap/disposal company, or a receipt for disposal identifying the vessel registration number or hull I.D. number.  Visit this page for more information.

Please notify our office as soon as possible. If you have any supporting evidence, please provide that as well.

Please provide our office with a copy or scan of the police report for your stolen vessel.

You must request cancellation in writing to DOBOR by mail at 4 Sand Island Access Road, Honolulu, HI, 96819 or by email at [email protected]. Cancellation requests must be approved by the DLNR Chairperson. Please be aware that once a registration number is cancelled, it can only be reinstated by the Board of Land and Natural Resources. Most owners will not need to cancel their registration number unless moving out of state or moving the vessel into U.S. Coast Guard documentation.