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HB 389

RELATING TO UNCREWED AIRCRAFT OFFENSES.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Nadine Nakamura

HB 389 establishes criminal offenses for unauthorized or unsafe uncrewed aircraft operations in Hawaii, creating penalties and operational restrictions to protect public safety and airspace security.

Act 014, 05/19/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1114).
#criminaloffenses #honoluluprosecutingattorneypackage #uncrewedaircraft
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Bill Summary · HB 389

Legislative bill overview

HB 389 establishes criminal offenses and penalties related to the operation of uncrewed aircraft (drones) in Hawaii. The bill creates legal frameworks to address unauthorized or dangerous drone activities, likely including restrictions on where and how drones can be flown, particularly near sensitive locations or populated areas.

Why is this important

As drone technology becomes more accessible and prevalent, states need clear legal boundaries to protect public safety, privacy, and airspace security. Hawaii, as an island state with unique geographic and security considerations, faces specific challenges from unregulated drone operations that could threaten infrastructure, wildlife, tourism operations, and residential privacy.

Potential points of contention

  • Definition and scope ambiguity: The bill's specific definitions of prohibited drone operations may be unclear, potentially creating enforcement challenges or inadvertently restricting legitimate commercial and hobbyist uses
  • Privacy vs. security balance: Balancing drone restrictions for safety against citizens' rights to operate personal aircraft and concerns about government overreach in airspace monitoring
  • Penalty proportionality: Questions about whether criminal penalties are appropriately scaled to offense severity, particularly regarding first-time hobbyist violations versus malicious operations

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

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