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Bill

HB 964

RELATING TO TRESPASSING.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jenna Takenouchi

HB 964 modifies Hawaii's trespassing statutes with implications for property enforcement and potentially native Hawaiian land access rights; currently in committee review.

Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
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Bill Summary · HB 964

Legislative bill overview

HB 964 relates to trespassing laws in Hawaii, though the specific provisions are not detailed in the available legislative record. The bill was introduced in January 2025 and referred to three committees: Water, Land, and Hawaiian Affairs (WAL); Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs (JHA); and Finance (FIN), indicating it addresses substantive legal changes with potential fiscal implications.

Why is this important

Trespassing legislation affects property rights enforcement, landowner remedies, and public access to land—issues particularly significant in Hawaii given the state's unique land tenure history, native Hawaiian rights considerations, and the prevalence of both private and public land disputes. The bill's referral to committees addressing Hawaiian affairs suggests it may intersect with native Hawaiian land rights or cultural access concerns.

Potential points of contention

  • Native Hawaiian access rights — Changes to trespassing law could affect customary and traditional practices on private or ceded lands, creating tension between property rights and cultural access
  • Agricultural and conservation lands — Modifications may impact enforcement against unauthorized entry on working lands, fishponds, or environmentally sensitive areas
  • Definition and penalties — Potential disagreements over what constitutes trespassing, whether penalties are proportionate, and how enforcement affects low-income communities or those with historical land claims

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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