About

DLNR's Engineering Division administers the Hawaii Dam and Reservoir Safety Program
(Program). Authorization for the Program is provided under Hawaii Revised Statutes, Chapter
179D “Hawaii Dam and Reservoir Safety Act of 2007”, and Hawaii Administrative Rules,
Chapter 13-190 “Dams and Reservoirs” which establishes the rules governing the design,
construction, operation, maintenance, enlargement, alteration, repair, and removal of dams,
reservoirs, and appurtenant works in the State of Hawaii.

BACKGROUND

Dams and reservoirs in Hawaii were historically developed by the agriculture industry. Today,
dams and reservoirs continue to be used by the agriculture industry, in addition to providing
storage for drinking water, flood control, recreation, and other purposes.
Only dams that meet a certain size (height and volume) criteria are regulated under the Program.
Regulated dams are identified as having artificial barriers, together with appurtenant works,
which are 25-feet or more in height or have an impounding capacity of 50-acre-feet (~17 million
gallons) or more. Dams less than 6-feet in height, regardless of storage capacity, or that have a
storage capacity not in excess of 15-acre-feet (5 million gallons) regardless of height, do not fall
under State's jurisdiction, unless specified by the Program.