Yes, plastic bags are banned in Hawaii at retail checkouts. There is no single state statute, but all four counties — Honolulu, Maui, Hawaii, and Kauai — passed their own ordinances between 2011 and 2018, and together they cover every island. If you shop anywhere in the state, plan to bring your own bag or pay a small fee for a paper or reusable one at the register.
What You’ll Actually See at Checkout
The shopper’s experience is the same from island to island: grocery stores, retail shops, and convenience stores will not hand you a thin plastic bag for your purchases. If you don’t have a bag with you, the cashier will offer a compliant paper bag or a thicker reusable bag, usually for a fee.
The details behind the scenes differ a bit. Honolulu’s rules are the strictest. As of January 1, 2020, Honolulu no longer allows compostable plastic bags at all, and bags marketed as “biodegradable” don’t qualify either.1City and County of Honolulu Department of Environmental Services. Plastic Bag Ban Paper bags offered at Honolulu checkouts must be 100 percent recyclable, contain at least 40 percent post-consumer recycled content, and be printed with the words “Reusable” and “Recyclable” on the outside.2City and County of Honolulu. Plastic Bag Ban Information Sheet Reusable bags, whether cloth or heavy plastic, need handles and must be built for repeated use.
Bags That Are Still Allowed
The ban targets checkout bags, not every piece of plastic in the store. You will still find:
- Thin produce and bulk-food bags on the roll for fruits, vegetables, nuts, and grains.
- Plastic bags for raw meat, poultry, seafood, frozen foods, deli items, and uncooked eggs.
- Small bags for jewelry, hardware like nails and screws, and similar tiny items.
- Pharmacy bags for prescription medications.3Hawaii State Department of Health. Mandatory Plastic Bag Ban
- Dry cleaning and laundry bags.4County of Hawai’i Department of Environmental Management. Plastic Bag Reduction Ordinance Frequently Asked Questions
- Newspaper delivery sleeves.2City and County of Honolulu. Plastic Bag Ban Information Sheet
These all share a protective purpose and none have handles, which is one of the ways the ordinances tell a shopping bag apart from a packaging bag.
What You’ll Pay If You Forgot a Bag
In Honolulu, businesses must charge at least 15 cents for every compliant paper or reusable bag provided at checkout.1City and County of Honolulu Department of Environmental Services. Plastic Bag Ban Hawaii County sets the same 15-cent minimum.3Hawaii State Department of Health. Mandatory Plastic Bag Ban Maui County is the outlier: stores are allowed to charge for paper or reusable bags, but are not required to.5Maui County. Frequently Asked Questions – Plastic Bag Reduction Ordinance The fee goes to the retailer, not the county, and it exists to push shoppers toward reusables rather than treating store bags as free.
Where the Ban Doesn’t Reach
Restaurants, fast-food outlets, and lunch wagons can still use plastic bags to carry out prepared food.3Hawaii State Department of Health. Mandatory Plastic Bag Ban The rules are aimed at shopping bags, not takeout. In Hawaii County, nonprofit organizations recognized under Section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code are exempt from both the bag restrictions and the fee requirement, so a food bank or fundraiser can still hand out plastic bags for free.4County of Hawai’i Department of Environmental Management. Plastic Bag Reduction Ordinance Frequently Asked Questions
Foam Containers, Straws, and Plastic Utensils
The restrictions extend past bags. All four counties have banned polystyrene foam food containers, so you won’t find a Styrofoam clamshell at a restaurant or supermarket anywhere in the state.
Honolulu’s Ordinance 19-30, known as Bill 40, goes furthest. It prohibits food vendors from serving prepared food in polystyrene foam containers, disposable plastic food containers, or with disposable plastic utensils. Straws and utensils can be provided only when a customer asks for them or through a self-service dispenser, and any straw offered must be made from a non-fossil-fuel material unless the customer has a medical need for plastic. Hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities are exempt from the straw rule.6City and County of Honolulu. Ordinance 19-30 (Bill 40)
On the Big Island, the foam ban took effect July 1, 2019, and applies to all retail food establishments, including restaurants, supermarkets, and farmers’ markets. It also reaches anyone using a county facility or operating at a county-sponsored event. Pre-packaged foods sealed outside Hawaii County and reusable coolers are not covered.7County of Hawai’i Department of Environmental Management. Polystyrene Foam Food Container and Food Service Ware Reduction Ordinance
In practice: bring a reusable bag, expect to be asked whether you actually need a straw, and don’t look for foam takeout containers.
Reporting a Store That Hands Out Banned Bags
If a retailer is still giving out prohibited plastic bags, each county takes complaints directly. On Oahu, contact the Department of Environmental Services Recycling Branch at businessrecycle@honolulu.gov or (808) 768-3200, extension 6.1City and County of Honolulu Department of Environmental Services. Plastic Bag Ban On the Big Island, email bring-ur-bag@hawaiicounty.gov or call 961-8270.8County of Hawai’i Department of Environmental Management. County of Hawai’i Plastic Bag Reduction Ordinance