How to register a boat in Hawaii
Register in person within 20 days of purchase
A new owner has 20 days to transfer ownership and register the vessel before a late fee applies. New registrations and transfers cannot be mailed in — you (or a dealer acting for you) must submit the application in person at the Vessel Registration and Titling Office on Oahu or the nearest Neighbor Island District Office. If you buy through a dealer, you receive a temporary registration and decals valid for 60 days while the paperwork is processed.
Bring proof of ownership and photo ID
Get the official Application for Vessel Certificate of Title and Certificate of Number at a DOBOR facility and complete it. Bring proof of ownership — a notarized bill of sale, a manufacturer's statement of origin (MSO) for a new boat, an existing title or notice of transfer properly assigned to you — plus a valid photo ID (driver's license or State of Hawaii ID card).
Pay the title and registration fees
Undocumented vessels used principally in Hawaii pay a one-time title fee plus the annual registration fee for the vessel's length class (see the fee table). General excise tax may apply to the sale. Registering in person avoids the online convenience fee.
Receive your certificate, HA number, and decal
You receive a Certificate of Number and a validation decal, and (for undocumented vessels) a Certificate of Title. The registration number — Hawaii numbers begin with "HA" — must be painted or applied to each side of the forward half of the hull in block characters at least 3 inches high, in a color that contrasts with the hull and is readable from 100 feet. The validation decal goes on each side, 3 inches aft of and in line with the number.
Hawaii registration fees
Hawaii sets the annual registration fee by two length classes — under 20 feet and 20 feet or longer — with a higher fee the first time a vessel is registered and a lower fee at each yearly renewal. Undocumented vessels also pay a one-time $20 title fee. Renewing online adds a $5 convenience fee plus payment processing; renewing in person or by mail avoids it. An optional annual launch-ramp permit decal is $75.
| Class | Vessel length | Base fee |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 ft | Less than 20 feet | $20/yr renewal ($25 first registration) |
| 20 ft and over | 20 feet or longer | $35/yr renewal ($40 first registration) |
Figures from the DLNR boating fee schedule; a one-time $20 title fee applies to undocumented vessels, and late/delinquency fees are added if registration lapses or a transfer is filed after 20 days. Confirm current amounts with DOBOR before you pay.
Titling in Hawaii
Hawaii does title vessels. Under Chapter 200A, Hawaii Revised Statutes (effective July 1, 2021), every undocumented vessel principally used in Hawaii must carry a Certificate of Title in addition to its registration. The title is the ownership record; it never expires and does not need renewal — it is valid for the life of the vessel or until ownership is transferred — while the registration is renewed each year.
Federally documented vessels are the key exception. Hawaii law does not allow a vessel to hold both a state registration/title and a USCG Certificate of Documentation at the same time, so a documented vessel is neither state-titled nor numbered here — the Coast Guard document is the sole ownership record. (A documented vessel using state facilities can still buy a launch-ramp decal.) This is the classic "documented instead of state-registered" setup explained in state registration vs USCG documentation.
HIN requirements
Hawaii records a Hull Identification Number (HIN) on the title and registration. For a boat built in or after 1972, the HIN is the 12-character code the manufacturer permanently affixed to the hull's starboard transom, and it must be recorded accurately on the DOBOR paperwork. HINs on vessels manufactured before 1972 may not follow the 12-character format.
If the HIN has been removed or obliterated, or the vessel is homebuilt with no HIN, DOBOR assigns a permanent state HIN as part of titling. Intentionally removing, altering, or defacing a manufacturer's HIN is a criminal offense in Hawaii, so a boat with a damaged or missing hull number is inspected before a replacement HIN is issued.
Decode any existing hull number first with the HIN decoder to confirm the manufacturer and model year match the bill of sale before you take the paperwork to a DOBOR office.
Renewal
Hawaii vessel registration is renewed annually — the Certificate of Number is valid for one year and can be renewed for only one year at a time. DOBOR mails a renewal notice roughly three months before the certificate expires, and you may renew any time within that window (up to about 90 days early) online, by mail, or in person, without penalty. Let it lapse and delinquency/late fees accrue while the account is past due. The title, by contrast, never needs renewal.
Exemptions
Hawaii numbers most undocumented vessels, but several categories are exempt. Manually propelled recreational vessels — kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, and rowboats moved by human power alone — do not need to be registered. Recreational vessels eight (8) feet or less in length propelled solely by sail are exempt, as are motorboats whose propulsion machinery produces less than five (5) horsepower. Also outside the requirement: federally documented vessels, government and public vessels, ships' lifeboats used only for lifesaving, racing motorboats meeting the state exception, and out-of-state vessels already registered elsewhere that are in Hawaii waters for 60 days or less. Owners of an exempt undocumented vessel may still choose to register it voluntarily.
Frequently asked questions
Do kayaks and canoes need to be registered in Hawaii?
No. Manually propelled recreational vessels — kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, and rowboats moved by human power alone — are exempt from Hawaii's numbering requirement, regardless of length. The same goes for a small sailboat eight feet or less propelled solely by sail. You can register one voluntarily if you want, but it is not required.
Does Hawaii title boats?
Yes. Since July 1, 2021, Hawaii issues a Certificate of Title for undocumented vessels principally used in the state, on top of the annual registration. The title is a lifetime ownership record that never needs renewal; only the registration is renewed each year. Federally documented vessels are not state-titled.
Do I have to register my boat in Hawaii if it is USCG documented?
No. Hawaii law does not allow a vessel to hold both a state registration and a federal Certificate of Documentation at the same time, so a documented vessel is not numbered or titled by DOBOR — the Coast Guard document is the ownership record. A documented boat can still buy a launch-ramp decal to use state facilities.
How long can an out-of-state boat stay in Hawaii before it must register?
A vessel already registered in another state may use Hawaii waters for up to 60 calendar days. Beyond 60 days the owner must obtain a Hawaii title and registration. Visiting boaters should keep their home-state registration aboard as proof of the start of that window.
How much does it cost to register a boat in Hawaii?
The annual registration fee depends on length: about $20 a year to renew a boat under 20 feet and $35 a year for 20 feet and over, with a higher fee ($25 / $40) the first time the vessel is registered. Undocumented vessels also pay a one-time $20 title fee. Renewing online adds a $5 convenience fee.
Primary sources
Last verified .
- DLNR DOBOR — Vessel Registration & Titling (retrieved 2026-07-16)
- DLNR DOBOR — Numbering Your Vessel (exemptions, HIN, number/decal display) (retrieved 2026-07-16)
- DLNR Explore Outdoor Hawaii — Individual & Vessel Registration (fees) (retrieved 2026-07-16)
- eHawaii — Online Vessel Services Help Center (renewal, documented vessels) (retrieved 2026-07-16)
- DLNR DOBOR — Application for Vessel Certificate of Title and Certificate of Number (retrieved 2026-07-16)
Independent reference tool — not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the U.S. Coast Guard or the National Maritime Center. Vessel data is derived from public USCG sources and may lag official records; always verify with the issuing authority.
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