Hawaii /
Kane'ohe Bay
Bay in Hawaii · 9,881 acres · near Kāneʻohe
Kane'ohe Bay has 1 boat ramp listed as public.
Boating rules
- There shall be no walking, sitting, standing, or anchoring on live coral or otherwise damaging the reef within Kaneohe Bay ocean waters. In addition to speed restrictions found in section 13-244-9, slow-no-wake restrictions shall apply in Kaneohe Bay offshore mooring areas, Kaneohe Bay ocean waters zones D, E, F, and I, Kualoa waters zone B, and anywhere within the Kaneohe Bay when a vessel is within two hundred feet of Kapapa Island and the Central Reef shallows defined as areas having a depth of less than or equal to five feet mean lower low water, including the area of Ahu O Laka Island, (“The Sand Bar”). No increase in the level of commercial ocean use activities existing on July 1, 1993 will be permitted within Kaneohe Bay waters. Activities conducted by a bona-fide educational institution or an organization which is registered with the State and classified by the Internal Revenue Service as a not-for-profit (section 501(c)(3)) organization shall not be subject to the restrictions of subsection (p), but shall operate only in accordance with a permit issued by the department pursuant to chapter 13-231 or chapter 13-256 or both. Anchoring or mooring on living coral is prohibited. All sea walker activity shall be done on a flat sandy bottom, not on sea grass beds. All underwater activity, including but not limited to SCUBA, snorkeling, and sea-walker, shall prohibit participants from touching coral and/or living parts of a reef. All commercial ocean use activities in Kaneohe Bay ocean waters are prohibited on Sundays and federal holidays. · all of Kane'ohe Bay rule
- Zones A, B, and C are designated as commercial thrill craft zones where full service permittees shall be required to operate. Not more than six rental thrill craft shall operate within each of the zones A and B at any one time. No more than three rental thrill craft shall operate within zone C at any one time. Zone A may be referred to as the Checker Reef commercial thrill craft zone. Zones B and C may be referred to as the commercial thrill craft sand flat zones. Commercial thrill craft shall be operated in a clockwise direction only within zones A, B, and C only between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Mondays through Saturdays. No commercial thrill craft shall be operated within Zones A, B, or C on Sundays or federal holidays. The permittee shall identify and mark the boundaries of the designated thrill craft operating zone with temporary floating buoys only installed during periods of operation. · 3 zones on Kane'ohe Bay rule
- Zone D is restricted to commercial SCUBA, snorkeling and sightseeing cruises only. Anchoring on live coral is prohibited. No person shall walk, stand or sit on live coral formations. Commercial snorkeling operators shall have a snorkel vest available for each snorkeler in the water and encourage snorkelers to use the vest to decrease the likelihood of standing on coral. Activity shall take place only near the reef, not on the reef. Vessels entering this zone shall use extreme caution while this zone is occupied during diving activities. All commercial ocean use activities in Kaneohe Bay ocean waters are prohibited on Sundays and federal holidays. · 1 zone on Kane'ohe Bay rule
- Zone E is restricted to SCUBA, snorkeling, underwater activities, and sightseeing cruises only. Anchoring on live coral is prohibited. No person shall walk, stand or sit on live coral formations. Commercial snorkeling operators shall have a snorkel vest available for each snorkeler in the water and encourage snorkelers to use the vest to decrease the likelihood of standing on coral. Vessels entering this zone shall use extreme caution while this zone is occupied during diving activities. All commercial ocean use activities in Kaneohe Bay ocean waters are prohibited on Sundays and federal holidays. · 1 zone on Kane'ohe Bay rule
- Zone F is designated as non-exclusive commercial ocean water sports zone. All vessels entering this zone shall exercise extreme caution while it is being utilized for commercial ocean water sports activities. Anchoring on live coral is prohibited. No person shall walk, stand or sit on live coral formations. Commercial operators operating in this zone shall have a snorkel vest available for each snorkeler in the water and encourage snorkelers to use the vest to decrease the likelihood of standing on coral. All activity on top of Checker Reef in Zone F is prohibited. All commercial ocean use activities in Kaneohe Bay ocean waters are prohibited on Sundays and federal holidays. · 1 zone on Kane'ohe Bay rule
- Zone G is designated as non-exclusive commercial water ski and water sledding zone. Commercial water skiing and water sledding and the operation of towed devices used to carry passengers for commercial purposes shall be restricted to this zone. No more than one commercial vessel for water sledding shall be permitted to tow at any speed within this zone at any one time for safety purposes. Commercial large full service permittees and non-commercial recreational users shall share the zone equally. All towing shall be conducted in a clockwise direction. No person shall moor or anchor a vessel within this zone. High speed operations shall take place in deep water 200 feet or more from any reef edge, reef crest, or sand flat. All commercial ocean use activities in Kaneohe Bay ocean waters are prohibited on Sundays and federal holidays. · 1 zone on Kane'ohe Bay rule
- Zone H is designated as non-exclusive commercial water ski and water sledding zone. Commercial water skiing and water sledding and the operation of towed devices used to carry passengers for commercial purposes are restricted to this zone. No more than two commercial vessels for water sledding shall be permitted to tow at high speed within this zone at any one time for safety purposes. Commercial full service permittees and non-commercial recreational users shall share the zone equally. All towing shall be conducted in a clockwise direction. No person shall moor a vessel within this zone. High speed operations must take place in deep water 200 feet or more from any reef edge, reef crest, or sand flat. All commercial ocean use activities in Kaneohe Bay ocean waters are prohibited on Sundays and federal holidays. · 1 zone on Kane'ohe Bay rule
- Zone I is designated as non-exclusive commercial ocean water sports zone. Other vessels entering this zone shall exercise extreme caution while it is being used for commercial ocean water sports activities. Commercial operators operating in this zone shall have a snorkel vest available for each snorkeler in the water and encourage snorkelers to use the vest. Commercial operators whose passengers do not operate thrill craft must keep their passengers out of Thrill Craft Zones B and C. Vessels operating in Zone I shall maintain a watch for sea turtles, which may migrate to the north central part of the zone, and exercise care to stay clear of any turtle observed. All commercial ocean use activities in Kaneohe Bay ocean waters are prohibited on Sundays and federal holidays. · 1 zone on Kane'ohe Bay rule
From the boating rules map of Hawaii DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation; Hawaii Statewide GIS Program, read October 18, 2026. A map of rules is a guide: the regulation's text and the posted signs govern.
Launches
- Heeia Kea Small Boat Harbor · Boat ramp · near Kāneʻohe
Community
Where people who fish, boat and paddle Kane'ohe Bay talk about it. Lake associations, clubs and local groups will be added as we find them.