Hawaii Revised Statutes

Haw. Rev. Stat. § 188-31 (2026)

  Permits to take aquatic life for aquarium purposes

✓ current as of July 2026
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     §188-31  Permits to take aquatic life for aquarium purposes.  (a)  Except as prohibited by law, the department, upon receipt of a written application, may issue an aquarium fish permit, not longer than one year in duration, to use fine meshed traps, or fine meshed nets other than throw nets, for the taking of marine or freshwater nongame fish and other aquatic life for aquarium purposes.

     (b)  Except as prohibited by law, the permits shall be issued only to persons who can satisfy the department that they possess facilities to and can maintain fish and other aquatic life alive and in reasonable health.

     (c)  It shall be illegal to sell or offer for sale any fish and other aquatic life taken under an aquarium fish permit unless those fish and other aquatic life are sold alive for aquarium purposes.

     The department may adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 for the purpose of this section.

     (d)  For the purposes of this section:

     (1)  "Aquarium purposes" means to hold salt water fish, freshwater nongame fish, or other aquatic life alive in a state of captivity as pets, for scientific study, or for public exhibition or display, or for sale for these purposes; and

     (2)  "Aquarium fish permit" means a permit issued by the board for the use of fine mesh nets and traps to take salt water fish, freshwater nongame fish, or other aquatic life for aquarium purposes. [L 1953, c 124, §§1, 2, 3; RL 1955, §21-64; am L 1961, c 30, §§1, 2 and c 132, §2; HRS §188-31; am L 1979, c 154, §1; gen ch 1985; am L 1992, c 96, §2]

 

Case Notes

 

  Commercial aquarium collection under this section and the department of land and natural resources' administrative rules is subject to the requirements of the Hawaii environmental policy act.  140 H. 500, 403 P.3d 277 (2017).

 

 

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 4 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 2016–2024 · leading case: Umberger v. Dep't of Land & Nat. Resources., 403 P.3d 277 (Haw. 2017).
Umberger v. Dep't of Land & Nat. Resources., 403 P.3d 277 (Haw. 2017). · cites it 153× “The fundamental issue presented in this case is whether aquarium collection pursuant to permits issued under HRS § 188-31 and DLNR’s administrative scheme is subject to the environmental review procedures provided in the Hawaii Environmental Policy Act (HEPA).”
Umberger v. Dep't of Land & Nat. Resources, 382 P.3d 320 (Haw. App. 2016). · cites it 30× “DLNR has the authority to issue and renew aquarium fish permits pursuant to HRS § 188-31, which provides: § 188-31 Permits to take aquatic life for aquarium purposes, (a) Except as prohibited by law, the depai-tment, upon receipt of a written application, may issue an aquarium…”
Nā Papa'i Wawae 'Ula'Ula v. Dep't of Land & Nat. Resources, 547 P.3d 1187 (Haw. App. 2024). · cites it 6× “The Hawai#i Supreme Court determined that the permitted activities qualified as an "action" and reasoned: The course and scope of conduct allowed by both recreational and commercial aquarium collection permits issued under HRS § 188-31 and DLNR's administrative scheme encompass…”
Kaupiko v. Bd. of Land & Nat. Resources. Concurring & Dissenting Opinion by McKenna, J [ada]., 555 P.3d 143 (Haw. 2024). · cites it 5× “The Act directed DLNR to set aside at least thirty percent of the West Hawai‘i coastline as fish replenishment areas (FRAs) where aquarium fish collecting is prohibited.”
— Haw. Rev. Stat. § 188-31(a) — 2 cases
Umberger v. Dep't of Land & Nat. Resources., 403 P.3d 277 (Haw. 2017). “The fundamental issue presented in this case is whether aquarium collection pursuant to permits issued under HRS § 188-31 and DLNR’s administrative scheme is subject to the environmental review procedures provided in the Hawaii Environmental Policy Act (HEPA).”
Umberger v. Dep't of Land & Nat. Resources, 382 P.3d 320 (Haw. App. 2016). “DLNR has the authority to issue and renew aquarium fish permits pursuant to HRS § 188-31, which provides: § 188-31 Permits to take aquatic life for aquarium purposes, (a) Except as prohibited by law, the depai-tment, upon receipt of a written application, may issue an aquarium…”
— Haw. Rev. Stat. § 188-31(b) — 2 cases
Umberger v. Dep't of Land & Nat. Resources., 403 P.3d 277 (Haw. 2017). “The fundamental issue presented in this case is whether aquarium collection pursuant to permits issued under HRS § 188-31 and DLNR’s administrative scheme is subject to the environmental review procedures provided in the Hawaii Environmental Policy Act (HEPA).”
Umberger v. Dep't of Land & Nat. Resources, 382 P.3d 320 (Haw. App. 2016). “DLNR has the authority to issue and renew aquarium fish permits pursuant to HRS § 188-31, which provides: § 188-31 Permits to take aquatic life for aquarium purposes, (a) Except as prohibited by law, the depai-tment, upon receipt of a written application, may issue an aquarium…”
— Haw. Rev. Stat. § 188-31(c) — 2 cases
Umberger v. Dep't of Land & Nat. Resources., 403 P.3d 277 (Haw. 2017). “The fundamental issue presented in this case is whether aquarium collection pursuant to permits issued under HRS § 188-31 and DLNR’s administrative scheme is subject to the environmental review procedures provided in the Hawaii Environmental Policy Act (HEPA).”
Umberger v. Dep't of Land & Nat. Resources, 382 P.3d 320 (Haw. App. 2016). “DLNR has the authority to issue and renew aquarium fish permits pursuant to HRS § 188-31, which provides: § 188-31 Permits to take aquatic life for aquarium purposes, (a) Except as prohibited by law, the depai-tment, upon receipt of a written application, may issue an aquarium…”
— Haw. Rev. Stat. § 188-31(d)(l) — 1 case
Umberger v. Dep't of Land & Nat. Resources., 403 P.3d 277 (Haw. 2017). “The fundamental issue presented in this case is whether aquarium collection pursuant to permits issued under HRS § 188-31 and DLNR’s administrative scheme is subject to the environmental review procedures provided in the Hawaii Environmental Policy Act (HEPA).”
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