Restricted + banned species, permits required, and regulatory contact. Updated May 2026.
Hawaii has the most restrictive aquarium rules in the US after Alaska. Permits required for nearly all imports.
Hawaii Department of Agriculture
Official website: https://hdoa.hawaii.gov/
Always check the Hawaii Department of Agriculture restricted-species list before any aquarium livestock purchase. Lists update regularly and federal Lacey Act listings apply on top of state rules.
Piranhas are not specifically banned in Hawaii, but always confirm with Hawaii Department of Agriculture before purchase.
Snakeheads are restricted federally under the Lacey Act regardless of state law.
Most common aquarium species do NOT require a permit in Hawaii. Hawaii has the most restrictive aquarium rules in the US after Alaska. Permits required for nearly all imports. Always check the Hawaii Department of Agriculture website for the current restricted-species list before purchase.
The official source is the Hawaii Department of Agriculture: https://hdoa.hawaii.gov/. State lists update regularly - check before any purchase.
Special permits required - Hawaii restricts most aquatic imports. Check with Hawaii Department of Agriculture before ordering.
Fast Aquatics vendors filter inventory automatically by your shipping state - you'll only see species legal to ship to HI. Browse saltwater, freshwater, coral, or aquatic plants with carrier-tracked Buyer Protection on every order.
Browse the full state legality matrix covering all 50 US states + DC.