OOHGuide

Advertising in Hawaii Without Billboards: What's Legal and What Works

Updated 2026-10-14

Short answer: no, Hawaii does not allow billboards. State law prohibits billboards and outdoor advertising devices, with a short list of exceptions, and Hawaii has banned them since 1927. It also bans mobile billboard trucks. But that doesn't mean out-of-home advertising is off the table. Businesses in Hawaii reach people on the go through transit, airports, indoor and place-based screens, EV charging screens, vehicle wraps and on-premises signs.

What Hawaii's billboard law says

Hawaii Revised Statutes §445-112 says no person shall "erect, maintain, or use a billboard or display any outdoor advertising device," except as the law allows (HRS §445-112). Exceptions include:

  • On-premises signs: a sign identifying the business at its own location, or advertising goods and services sold there
  • Signs on vehicles used to transport people or goods (for example, buses and company vehicles)
  • Real estate signs on the property for sale or rent, and open-house signs
  • Official, safety and political signs, plus specific stadium scoreboard advertising
  • Signs that were already legally displayed in 1965

The state Department of Transportation also prohibits outdoor advertising on the state highway right-of-way (HDOT).

Mobile billboards are banned too

A separate law, §445-112.5 (2006), makes it unlawful to drive or park a vehicle or trailer that is used primarily to display advertising for pay where the public can see it. Fines run from $200 to $1,000 for a first offense up to $1,000 to $5,000 for repeat offenses, and each day counts as a separate offense (HRS §445-112.5). Ads on vehicles that actually transport people or goods remain allowed.

This is general information, not legal advice. Check with the seller and, if needed, an attorney before you buy.

The best billboard alternatives in Hawaii

1. Transit advertising

Because the law allows advertising on vehicles that carry people or goods, transit and commercial vehicles are one of the main ways to reach people on Hawaii's roads. Operators in our directory that sell transit and place-based media in Honolulu include AdWalls and JPG Media. See transit advertising for formats and typical costs elsewhere.

2. Airport advertising

Hawaii's airports handle millions of visitors and residents each year, and terminal advertising reaches travelers with long wait times, especially at baggage claim. Airport media is sold through each airport's advertising program. Clear Channel Outdoor lists Honolulu among its markets. See airport advertising costs.

3. Place-based and indoor screens

Indoor screens in shopping centers, hotels, gyms, offices and other venues aren't roadside billboards, and they reach people close up and for longer. They are a natural fit for tourism, retail and restaurant brands. See billboards vs street furniture vs place-based.

4. EV charging station screens

Hawaii has deep roots in this format. Volta, the company that pioneered EV chargers with built-in advertising screens, was founded in Hawaii in 2010, and its stations appeared at Honolulu locations such as the Hawaii Convention Center, Ward Village and Kaiser Permanente's Moanalua Medical Center (Wikipedia). In 2025, JOLT Charge acquired the Volta Media Network from Shell, adding thousands of EV charging and digital out-of-home sites across the US (Charged EVs), and JOLT's screens are live in Hawaii today. EV charging screens sit at places people already visit, like retail centers and parking garages, and reach drivers while they charge, which makes them one of the few digital out-of-home formats available to advertisers in a state with no billboards. Contact JOLT for Hawaii availability. Disclosure: OOHGuide's founder works at JOLT Charge.

5. Vehicle wraps on your own fleet

If your business runs trucks or vans, wrapping them is one of the most cost-effective local advertising options in Hawaii, and it is allowed because the vehicles carry people or goods. What is not allowed is a vehicle driven around primarily to display ads.

6. On-premises signs

Hawaii allows signs at your own location that identify the business and what it sells. A well-designed on-premises sign (subject to county sign rules) is your one guaranteed outdoor sign.

7. Stadium and event signage

The law specifically allows certain scoreboard and in-stadium advertising, and advertising for events on the premises where they are held. Sports and event sponsorships can reach large local audiences.

How to plan an out-of-home campaign in Hawaii

  1. Start with where your audience goes: airports and hotels for visitors, retail centers, gyms and commutes for residents.
  2. Mix formats to build frequency: for example airport screens plus place-based screens near your stores.
  3. Lean on digital where possible. Changing messages by time of day, for visitors versus locals, is easy.
  4. Confirm legality with the seller for any outdoor-facing placement.
  5. Measure with a unique URL, phone number or promo code.

More in how to plan an OOH campaign.

Frequently asked questions

Are billboards illegal in Hawaii?

Yes. Hawaii Revised Statutes §445-112 prohibits billboards and outdoor advertising devices except for specific exceptions such as on-premises signs, signs on vehicles that transport people or goods, real estate signs and official signs. Hawaii has banned billboards since 1927.

Why are there no billboards in Hawaii?

Hawaii banned billboards to protect its scenic beauty, starting in 1927. It is one of four states without roadside billboards, along with Vermont, Maine and Alaska. See which states ban billboards.

Are mobile billboards allowed in Hawaii?

No. HRS §445-112.5 prohibits operating or parking a vehicle or trailer used primarily to display advertising for pay, with fines of up to $5,000 for repeat offenses. Ads on vehicles that transport people or goods, like fleet wraps, are allowed.

How can I advertise outdoors in Hawaii?

Use transit and vehicle advertising, airport media, place-based and indoor screens, EV charging station screens, on-premises signs, and stadium or event sponsorships.

Find out-of-home options in Hawaii

See operators on our Hawaii page and the Honolulu guide, or request quotes and choose the format you want.

Sources

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