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Hawaiʻi photography permits: who needs one and what it costs
You can take your own pictures anywhere the public is allowed. A photographer you pay needs a permit on public land, and which permit depends on who manages the place. Your photographer normally holds it. This page tells you what to ask.
| Where | Permit for a paid photographer | Published cost |
|---|---|---|
| State beaches (the sand, on beaches on the state's list) | A state beach permit, called a Wiki Permit, or a Hawaiʻi Film Office permit. Either is accepted. Limit of two hours. | 10 cents per square foot, $20 minimum per event |
| State parks | A state film permit through the Hawaiʻi Film Office. Not issued for weekends or holidays. | $100 a site plus $25 a car per day |
| Other state sites on the Film Office's open list | An online Film Office permit for small shoots: no more than 20 people and four vehicles, no props, no drones. | $10 per two-week period |
| Honolulu city parks | A still-photo permit from the Parks Permits Office, filed three weeks ahead, with $1 million liability insurance. Some parks ban commercial activity altogether. | $20 a day, $100 a month or $1,000 a year |
| Maui County parks | Registration with the Maui County Film Office. The county says there is no filming at county beach parks on weekends and holidays. | No fee to file the film permit; the current park fee is not confirmed |
| Kauaʻi County parks | A county film permit with $1 million liability insurance and at least seven days' notice, plus a parks permit. | No charge for the film permit; the park fee is not published |
| Hawaiʻi County parks | County code prohibits commercial activity in parks without a permit. No portrait-specific permit or fee is published. Ask the Parks and Recreation permit office. | Not published |
| National parks | In most cases none for eight or fewer people, in public areas, with hand-carried equipment and no exclusive use. | None when no permit is needed; entrance fees apply |
What to ask your photographer
- Which permit covers our location, and do you hold it?
- Is the permit fee included in your price?
- Is the place open on our day? State park permits are not issued for weekends or holidays.
Why the beach and the park behind it can need two permits
In Hawaiʻi the sandy shoreline is generally state land, while the grass, parking and facilities behind it are often a county park or private. A permit for one does not cover the other.
Common questions
Do I need a permit to take my own photos on a Hawaii beach?
No. The Hawaii Film Office says permits are not required for photography that is only for personal use. A permit is needed when a photographer is paid.
How much is a photography permit for a Hawaii beach?
On a state beach, the state beach permit (Wiki Permit) is 10 cents per square foot with a $20 minimum per event. A Hawaii Film Office permit is the alternative.
Do you need a permit to take photos in a national park in Hawaii?
The National Park Service says that in most cases no permit or fee is needed for still photography involving eight or fewer people in areas open to the public, with hand-carried equipment and no exclusive use. Entrance fees still apply.
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