Environmental Court

Hawaii’s Environmental Courts have broad jurisdiction, covering water, forests, streams, beaches, air, and mountains, along with terrestrial and marine life. Hawaii’s Environmental Courts began operations on July 1, 2015. Environmental Court judges are designated in both the district and circuit courts throughout Hawaii, for both civil and criminal environmental cases. Numerous criminal offenses are heard in Environmental Court. Examples include: Taking more than one’s share of Ulua and Pāpio (bag limit 20), taking undersized He‘e (octopus, tako, squid) (minimum size 1 pound), entering state property where prohibited (for example, Sacred Falls on Oahu is closed, but many venture into the state park anyway), hunting on private land or taking or harassing a monk seal.