Definitions
Under §HRS 200, The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR) is tasked with creating and maintaining the Hawaii Administrative Rules for boat registration, boat operation, carriage requirements, recreational/commercial use of State waters, accident reporting, and mandatory education.
The following definitions found in the Hawaii Administrative Rules apply to thrill craft and their operation in Hawaii State waters. It is not a full list of all definitions that are found in DOBOR rules. Please refer to HAR §13-230-8 for any term that you cannot find here.
§13-230-8 Definitions. When used in these rules promulgated pursuant to chapter 200, Hawaii Revised Statutes, unless otherwise specifically provided or the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Boat" means a small vessel propelled by oars or paddles or by sail or power.
"Recreational boating accident":
(1) Means a collision, accident, or other casualty involving:
(A) A person's death;
(B) Complete loss of a vessel;
(C) Damage to a vessel amounting to $2,000 or more;
(D) The disappearance of a person from a vessel under circumstances indicating death or injury to that person; or
(E) The injury to a person requiring medical treatment beyond first aid.
(2) Includes damage to a vessel or its equipment, loss of life, or injury to any person or object:
(A) Caused by a moving vessel's wake, wash, or waves, or by a vessel's capsizing, or collision with another vessel or object;
(B) Caused by flooding, fire, or explosion;
(C) Caused when a person falls overboard; or
(D) On board a vessel.
"Ocean recreation management area" (ORMA) means ocean waters of the State that have been designated for specific activities as described in chapter 13-256, Ocean Recreation Management Rules and Areas.
"Personal flotation device" is a technical term for a life preserver that has been approved and certified by the United States Coast Guard and capable of providing at least ninety per cent of factory-rated flotation capacity.
"Slow-no-wake" means as slow as possible without losing steerage way and so as to make the least possible wake. This would almost always mean speeds of less than five miles an hour.
"Thrill craft" means any motorized vessel that falls into the category of personal watercraft, which:
(1) Is generally less than thirteen feet in length as manufactured;
(2) Is generally capable of exceeding a speed of twenty miles per hour;
(3) Can be operated by a single operator, but may have the capacity to carry passengers while in operation; or
(4) Is designed to provide similar operating performance as a personal watercraft through a combination of small size, power plant, and hull design.
The term includes, but is not limited to, a jet ski, waverunner, wet bike, surf jet, miniature speed boat, hovercraft, and every description of vessel which uses an internal combustion engine powering a water jet pump as its primary source of motive propulsion, and is designed to be operated by a person or persons sitting, standing, or kneeling on, or being towed behind the vessel.
"Tow-in surfing" means utilizing a surfboard, often equipped with foot straps, to surf waves with the assistance of a thrill craft that is equipped with a rescue sled, bow tow-line, and a tow-in-rope.
"Waters of the State" means any waters within the jurisdiction of the State, the marginal seas adjacent to the State, and the high seas when navigated as part of a journey or ride to or from the shores of the State.
NOTE: JetLev and Flyboard have been deemed thrill craft by the State of Hawaii, DLNR. Contact DLNR/DOBOR before you launch Seabreacher, Surfjet, motorized wakeboards, and similar jet-powered devices to ask about pertinent regulations and requirements. Always observe the State of Hawaii speed regulations found in HAR §13-244-9.
