Taller than a palm tree

On the island of Kaua?i, palm trees are king. As such there is a law on the books that makes it illegal for any building to be taller than a palm tree. Now, some palm trees can grow to be pretty high; so, we’re guessing there are some standardized techniques employed to ensure their palm trees can grow as high as possible.

Leave indigenous wildlife alone

When you are visiting one of Hawai?i’s amazing state parks, you are not allowed to “annoy” the birds.

No eyesore advertising

On the continent, one of the things that litters the skies and disrupts your views are bulky, garish billboards. But in Hawaii, billboards were outlawed in the 1920s. As a matter of fact, when Hawaii entered the United States as a full-fledged member in 1959, it was the first state in the U.S. to do so. No one complains about this law. Seriously? Who wants to give up view of mauka and rainbows to see gaudy advertising? Exactly.

No double-fisting

Okay, we do have to admit that is a really weird one. Here in Hawaii, did you know that it is illegal for you to have more than one alcoholic beverage in front of you at the same time? Of course, like with all “unique” laws, this rule is part of a larger set of laws and regulations that are meant to manage an individual’s alcohol consumption and to maintain public safety.

Truck bed riding

You’ve heard of calling shotgun! when claiming the front passenger seat of a vehicle. But did you know that if the vehicle is packed that you can ride in the back bed of the truck with no safety requirements needed?

No dairy in a milkshake?

If you get a yummy milkshake in Hawaii, you can rest assured that you are guaranteed to be drinking dairy in that drink. It is illegal to make a milkshake without dairy unless you specifically advertise and inform your customers that it is a dairy alternative being used.

No alcohol prize for you

When you enter into a competition at a shooting gallery in Hawai?i, it is illegal to give you a prize that has alcohol. This pretty much goes without needing much explanation.

Don’t bother the local caves

It is illegal to break off mineral deposits and speleothems from caves. Caves hold a sacred place in Hawaiian culture and tradition. Hawaiians used caves for burials for a millennia. And there were kapu, sacred laws, that regulated these caves.

Leave the sharks alone

Sharks get a bad rap. From the movie Jaws to shark fin soup, humans don’t quite know how to deal with such a powerful creature. To help, there are laws that prohibit you from having a shark fin in your possession. So, leave the sharks alone.