With less than six months to go before Hawaii’s new mandatory education law for boaters is enforced, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources is informing boaters that there’s still ample time and multiple ways to become compliant.
Beginning Nov. 10, all individuals who operate a motorized vessel in Hawaii’s waters must have taken a boating safety course and be able to show proof of certification. The rule applies to all boaters unless they or vessels being used fall under one of the exemptions mentioned in the new rule. The mandatory boater education rule can be accessed online at files.hawaii.gov/dlnr/dobor/rules/amend/Amend-13-244-15-5.pdf.
Any person violating this rule shall be fined not less than $50 and not more than $1,000 or sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not more than 30 days, or both, for each violation. The court may also prevent an individual from operating a vessel in state waters for up to 30 days.
DLNR has worked to create multiple methods for complying with the requirement. There are three Internet course that are fully approved, with one being offered for free. Classroom courses are being offered statewide by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. Two U.S. Power Squadrons are offering classes on Oahu.
In the next few months, numerous other course providers across the state will start to offer additional classes and DLNR will launch its own home study course. In addition, those who have already taken a course approved by the National Association of Boating Law Administrators can take an abbreviated course, free of charge, to become compliant.
A question and answer publication posted by DLNR’s Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation is available at dlnr.hawaii.gov/dobor/mandatory-boating-safety-education-qa. Full details on all the compliance methods are posted at this site.
A study released in 2007 by the National Association of Boating Law Administrators showed state with the longest history of mandatory education had the lowest boating fatality rates. Hawaii ranked fifth on the list of highest fatality rates in the year the study was finalized. In 2011, Hawaii had a fatality rate of 44 per 100,000 vessels, second worse in the nation.