How to Get a Boating License in Hawaii
Boaters operating motorized vessels over 10 horsepower in Hawaii are required to obtain a Boater Safety Education Card issued by the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation. This requirement applies to all operators regardless of age or experience level.
To obtain the card, an individual must complete a course approved by both NASBLA (the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators) and the State of Hawaii. Upon completion of an approved course, the participant receives a certificate. The card is then issued after passing the required test associated with the course.
Once issued, the Boater Safety Education Card must be carried at all times while operating a motorized vessel over 10 horsepower. For current information about approved courses and specific regulatory requirements, boaters should consult the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation official webpage.
- Confirm whether you're in the population this state covers (cutoff / age band).
- Take the accepted course: DOBOR Boater Safety Education Card (BSEC); NASBLA-/state-approved course certificate.
- Pass the test and receive your card or certificate.
- Carry it aboard whenever you operate, and confirm the current rule on the official state page.
Carry the card every time you operate
Once you’ve earned the card, keep it aboard whenever you operate — many states require you to show it on request, and a card from one state is usually honored in another. If you’ll boat across state lines, check each state’s rule, since the covered ages and accepted credentials differ. Always confirm the current requirement on the official state agency page.
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Course & fees for Hawaii → · Full requirements →
Planning to get out on the water?
Once you’ve sorted your boater-education card, SamBoat lists boats you can rent from local owners. Independent partner — an option to explore, not an endorsement, and never a substitute for your state’s requirement.
Rent a boat near you (SamBoat) →Compiled from the official state source, cross-referenced against NASBLA, and verified June 2026. Always confirm the current rule on the official Hawaii DLNR, Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR) page before you rely on it — boating law changes and some states are mid-rollout. How we compile this. Informational only, not legal advice.