Fujifilm X-S20
$1,490 - $1,680
US State
Hawaii
Hawaii actually has a statewide film permit: the Hawaii Film Office permits all state land, including beaches, state parks, trails, and harbors, with counties covering the rest.
Permit: conditional
Shoot decision
Depends on setup
Hawaii is one of the few states where a state film permit is a real, routine document.
Permit
Conditional
Issuer: Hawaii Film Office (DBEDT), permitting for DLNR and other state lands
Cost: Permit fees vary by land type and permit class; a certificate of insurance naming the state is required
Hawaii is one of the few states where a state film permit is a real, routine document. The state controls the coastlines of every island, ocean waters out three miles, state parks, forests, trails, small boat harbors, and highways; commercial filming and photography on any of it requires a permit processed by the Hawaii Film Office on behalf of DLNR and other agencies. Two tracks exist: a streamlined Open and Accessible ePermit for low-impact shoots at designated sites, and a Standard Film Permit for everything else. The four county film offices (Honolulu, Maui County, Kauai, Hawaii Island) permit county roads, parks, and facilities separately. Insurance naming the state (and county where relevant) is required. Verify site lists and fees with the film office.
Drone / airspace
Commercial drone work requires FAA Part 107
Drone use on state land goes on the film permit, and DLNR restricts drones in state parks and forest reserves. For Part 107 and state drone law, see Drone Authority.
Street / public space
Yes: you can photograph what is visible from public space in the US
Beaches are public in Hawaii, but commercial activity on them is what triggers the state permit; private resorts control their own grounds.
Practical notes
- A paid beach portrait session is commercial activity on state land almost anywhere in Hawaii, so the permit question comes up faster here than in any other state.
- Check the Open and Accessible site list first: if your beach or trail is on it, the ePermit is dramatically simpler than the standard permit.
- Haleakala, Hawaii Volcanoes, and Pearl Harbor are federal (NPS) sites with their own filming rules; Waikiki Beach fronting the hotels involves both state and city jurisdiction.
Guidance, not legal advice
Rules change and enforcement varies. Confirm with the issuing authority before you shoot. Drone law depth lives at Drone Authority.
9.0
Peak Design Travel Tripod (Carbon)
$599 - $699
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