Snakes are not legal in Hawaii. State law bans every species in the suborder Serpentes from being owned, imported, or transported, and the only exceptions are narrow allowances for government agencies. For a private resident, visitor, pet store, or breeder, there is no permit, no license, and no grandfathering.
Why the Ban Is Absolute
Hawaii’s native birds, insects, and plants evolved on islands with no land-based snakes, which left them with essentially no defenses against snake predation. The example the state points to is Guam, where the brown tree snake wiped out 10 of the island’s 12 native forest bird species after it arrived. Eight brown tree snakes have been found on Oahu since 1981, each believed to have arrived as a stowaway in cargo from Guam. A single pregnant snake or a mated pair loose in Hawaii could start a population the state might never be able to eradicate, which is why the law treats one smuggled pet as a serious matter rather than a minor infraction.
Penalties Under HRS §150A-14
The consequences depend sharply on what you did and why.
Simple Possession or Transport
Owning, transporting, or harboring a snake without a permit is a misdemeanor. The fine runs from $5,000 to $20,000, and a court can impose up to one year in jail.1Justia. Hawaii Code 150A-14 – Penalty2Justia. Hawaii Code 706-663 – Sentence of Imprisonment for Misdemeanor and Petty Misdemeanor
Hawaii’s minimum fine is unusually high. Many mainland states cap prohibited-wildlife fines at $500 to $2,000.
Importing With Intent to Sell, Breed, or Release
Intentionally bringing a snake into Hawaii in order to sell, breed, or release it is a class C felony. Fines run from $50,000 to $200,000, with a maximum prison sentence of five years.1Justia. Hawaii Code 150A-14 – Penalty3Justia. Hawaii Code 706-660 – Sentence of Imprisonment for Class B and C Felonies
Paying for the Cleanup
If a snake you brought in escapes and triggers a capture or eradication effort, a court can order you to reimburse the state for what the Department of Agriculture actually spent. The amount is set at the court’s discretion.1Justia. Hawaii Code 150A-14 – Penalty
The Exceptions Do Not Cover Private Owners
HRS §150A-6 permits snakes in Hawaii only in two tightly controlled situations, both requiring written approval from the Board of Agriculture:4Justia. Hawaii Code 150A-6 – Soil, Plants, Animals, Etc., Importation or Possession Prohibited
- The Hawaii Department of Agriculture may hold up to four live, sterile male brown tree snakes for research or for training snake-detector dogs.
- A government agency may keep up to two live, nonvenomous male snakes for exhibition in a government zoo.
In both cases, the snakes must be confirmed male before shipment, and the board sets conditions covering escape prevention, supervision, and eventual disposal. No equivalent permit exists for private individuals, pet stores, schools, or breeders. A snake you legally owned on the mainland cannot come with you.
If You Already Have a Snake, or See One
Hawaii law provides a voluntary surrender route. Under HRS §150A-14(f), anyone who turns in a prohibited animal before the Department of Agriculture starts a seizure action is exempt from penalties.1Justia. Hawaii Code 150A-14 – Penalty That immunity ends the moment an investigation begins, so the opening to act without consequences exists only before authorities come looking.
If you spot a snake anywhere in the state, call 911 or the statewide Pest Hotline at (808) 643-PEST (7378).5Hawaii Invasive Species Council. Brown Tree Snake Reports can also be filed online through the Department of Agriculture’s Plant Quarantine Branch.6Hawaii Department of Agriculture. Pest Hotline Submission Note the location, size, color, and what the snake was doing. Do not try to catch or handle it yourself.