Hawaii’s cockfighting laws make the activity a misdemeanor under the state’s second-degree animal cruelty statute, punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $2,000. Federal charges can apply on top of that when roosters, equipment, or money cross state lines, raising the exposure to as much as five years in federal prison. Gambling charges almost always come along for the ride.
What the State Statute Covers
The main prohibition sits in HRS 711-1109, Hawaii’s cruelty to animals in the second degree statute. It is illegal to run or manage any place used for cockfighting, to collect admission money for such events, or to encourage or assist in cockfighting activity. The statute also reaches anyone who allows their property to be used for the purpose.1Justia. Hawaii Code 711-1109 – Cruelty to Animals in the Second Degree
That reach matters. The law is not limited to the handlers who pit the birds. If you own property where a fight happens and you know about it, you are exposed. If you help organize, handle logistics, or run the gate, you are exposed. Honolulu adds its own ordinance that specifically targets cockfighting exhibitions and the possession of fighting equipment like gaffs and slashers.
State Penalties
A conviction under HRS 711-1109 for cockfighting is a misdemeanor.1Justia. Hawaii Code 711-1109 – Cruelty to Animals in the Second Degree Under Hawaii’s general sentencing provisions, that means up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $2,000. Judges work within those limits, so a first-time offender with no record may draw a lighter sentence while repeat offenders can expect the court to push closer to the ceiling.
There is a felony escalation inside the same statute. HRS 711-1109 becomes a Class C felony when the offense involves ten or more pet animals in a single incident.1Justia. Hawaii Code 711-1109 – Cruelty to Animals in the Second Degree Whether fighting roosters qualify as “pet animals” under that provision is a question that would depend on how prosecutors frame the case, but a large-scale operation could face felony exposure under this language.
Gambling Charges on Top
Cockfighting in Hawaii almost always involves wagering, and Hawaii is one of only two states with no legalized gambling of any kind. HRS 712-1223 makes it a misdemeanor to knowingly participate in gambling activity.2Justia. Hawaii Code 712-1223 – Gambling
When law enforcement breaks up a cockfighting operation, gambling charges are routinely stacked on top of the animal cruelty count. A bettor at a cockfight can face two separate misdemeanor counts, each with its own potential jail time and fines. Organizers who collect money from bettors or run the wagering side can face promotion of gambling charges, which carry stiffer penalties.
Federal Exposure
Federal law applies on top of state charges whenever the activity crosses state or international borders, uses the mail system, or involves interstate commerce. The Animal Welfare Act at 7 U.S.C. 2156 prohibits sponsoring or exhibiting an animal in a fighting venture, as well as buying, selling, training, transporting, or possessing any animal for that purpose. It also bans using the U.S. Postal Service or any interstate communication channel to advertise an animal or promote a fight, and separately bans shipping fighting instruments like gaffs across state lines.3Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 7 U.S. Code 2156 – Animal Fighting Venture Prohibition
The penalties are substantially heavier than Hawaii’s misdemeanor. Under 18 U.S.C. 49, anyone who sponsors, exhibits, buys, sells, trains, or transports animals for fighting faces up to five years in federal prison. Knowingly attending an animal fighting venture is a separate federal offense carrying up to one year.4Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 U.S. Code 49 – Enforcement of Animal Fighting Prohibitions For a felony-level offense like sponsoring a fight, the statutory maximum fine can reach $250,000 under general federal sentencing provisions.
Federal jurisdiction matters more for Hawaii residents than it might seem. Shipping roosters or fighting equipment between the islands and the mainland, or ordering gaffs online, can trigger federal charges even if the fight itself takes place entirely within the state.
What Happens to the Birds
Hawaii lets humane societies and prevention-of-cruelty organizations petition a court for forfeiture of impounded animals before the criminal case is resolved. Under HRS 711-1109.2, if an animal is impounded in connection with a cruelty charge, the holding organization can ask the court to transfer ownership permanently. The court grants forfeiture on a showing of probable cause that the animal was subjected to cruelty, and the owner can block it only by posting a security deposit sufficient to cover ongoing care or by arranging court-approved alternative care.5Justia. Hawaii Code 711-1109.2 – Forfeiture of Animal Prior to Filing of or Final Disposition of Criminal Charges
The forfeiture statute references “pet animal or equine animal,” so its application to roosters depends on how the court and prosecutors characterize the birds. In practice, cockfighting birds are rarely reclaimed.
Why the Penalties Remain Low
Hawaii is one of a small group of states where cockfighting is still only a misdemeanor, and legislative attempts to change that have not succeeded. House Bill 1980 in 2024 would have brought cockfighting penalties in line with the state’s dog fighting laws, elevating the offense to a felony. It did not become law. Dog fighting in the first degree under HRS 711-1109.3 is a Class B felony,6Justia. Hawaii Code 711-1109.3 – Cruelty to Animals by Fighting Dogs in the First Degree and Hawaii has a separate statute making it a crime to attend a dog fight or wager on one.7Justia. Hawaii Code 711-1109.35 – Cruelty to Animals by Fighting Dogs in the Second Degree No equivalent spectator or wagering offense exists for cockfighting under state animal cruelty law.
The misdemeanor classification has practical consequences beyond the sentence on paper. Cockfighting is often treated as a low-priority offense, and the penalties rarely justify the investigative resources needed for undercover work. Until the legislature acts, the federal statute is where the serious exposure lives for anyone whose activity touches interstate commerce, the mail, or online channels.