Hawaii AED requirements at a glance
Here is what Hawaii law asks of an AED program, row by row, with the statute behind each answer.
| Requirement | Required? | What the law says |
|---|---|---|
| Inspect and maintain AEDs | No | Not in state law. |
| Train expected users | No | Not in state law. |
| Notify agencies of AEDs | No | Not in state law. |
| Register the program | No | Not in state law. |
| Report AED locations | No | Not in state law. |
| Physician medical direction | No | Not in state law. |
| Report each AED use | No | Not in state law. |
| Written plan or records | No | Not in state law. |
| Call 911 when an AED is used | No | Not in state law. |
| School cardiac emergency plan | No | No law requires schools to have a cardiac emergency response plan. A 2025 bill for a school CERP pilot (SB 84) was carried over to 2026 and never passed. |
| Other requirements | No | Not in state law. |
| AEDs required at specific sites | No | Not in state law. |
Compare nearby states: California, Alaska, Oregon and Washington, or see every state on the AED laws by state table.
Is medical direction required in Hawaii?
No. Hawaii law doesn’t require a physician to oversee an AED program.
Some programs choose a medical director anyway, for example to write the response protocol or review each use. If you want one, AED Log’s Medical Direction add-on is $65 per AED per year.
Training requirements
No. Hawaii law doesn’t require AED training for AED owners in general.
Training still matters: an AED talks the rescuer through each step, but people who have practiced start CPR sooner and hesitate less. Keep each responder’s card current, since most CPR and AED cards last two years. See how long CPR and AED certification lasts.
Inspection and maintenance
No. Hawaii law doesn’t set an inspection or maintenance rule for AED owners in general.
Either way, the manufacturer’s instructions are the standard to follow: check the status indicator, the pads’ and battery’s expiration dates and the cabinet on a regular schedule, replace anything used or expired, and keep a dated record of each check. Our AED inspection requirements guide covers the routine, and the free AED inspection checklist is a printable version.
EMS notification, registration and placement reporting
No. Hawaii law doesn’t require AED owners to register their AEDs or report where they are.
Telling your local EMS agency about your AEDs is still worth doing: some 911 centers can direct a caller to the nearest one. AED Log’s document library keeps registrations, letters and notices with the AEDs they cover.
Notification after an AED is used
No. Hawaii law doesn’t require a report after an AED is used.
After any use, replace the pads, check the AED and its rescue kit, and write down what happened while it’s fresh. AED Log’s incident reports record whether a shock was advised, how many were delivered, whether CPR was given and when EMS arrived.
AEDs required at specific locations in Hawaii
No. Hawaii law doesn’t require AEDs at any particular kind of site.
That doesn’t make an AED optional everywhere: insurers, landlords, accreditors and other rules can still ask for one, and an AED is the only treatment that can restart a heart in cardiac arrest.
Does Hawaii's Good Samaritan law protect AED users?
Partly. Hawaii protects people who use an AED in good faith, but its protection for the AED’s owner is narrower.
What the Hawaii (HI) Good Samaritan law covers: Anyone who gives emergency care in good faith at an accident or emergency, without pay or expecting pay, can’t be held liable for civil damages. Gross negligence and wanton acts or omissions are not covered (§ 663-1.5(a)).
AED-specific protection: A person who uses any AED in good faith without being paid to try to save someone is protected from civil damages unless grossly negligent or wanton. Whoever provides the AED or the training program is protected only from being held vicariously liable for that rescuer. The law does not protect an owner from claims about its own conduct, such as poor maintenance.
Statutes and sources
Every answer on this page comes from these laws, read on Hawaii’s official legislature or code website.
- Haw. Rev. Stat. § 663-1.5: Exception to liability (Good Samaritan, including AED use)
Last reviewed against each statute on the state’s official website. This is a plain-language summary for general information, not legal advice. Laws change, so read the statute or ask a lawyer before you rely on it.
Managing a compliant AED program in Hawaii
AED Log keeps the records Hawaii law asks for, and reminds you before anything lapses.
- Monthly AED inspections on a phone, with a dated record of every check (inspection tracking)
- Pad and battery expiration dates, with a warning before each one (expiration tracking)
Plans start at $114 a year for one AED, with unlimited users and locations. Start a free trial (no credit card) or talk to us.
Hawaii AED laws FAQ
Are businesses required to have an AED in Hawaii?
No. Neither Hawaii law nor federal OSHA requires businesses to have an AED. An insurer, landlord or accreditor may still ask for one.
Do you need medical direction for an AED in Hawaii?
No. Hawaii law doesn’t require a physician to oversee an AED program. You can still choose one: AED Log’s Medical Direction add-on is $65 per AED per year.
Is AED training required in Hawaii?
No. Hawaii law doesn’t require AED training for AED owners in general. Training still helps: people who have practiced start CPR sooner and hesitate less.
Does Hawaii law require AED inspections?
No. Hawaii law doesn’t set an inspection rule for AED owners in general. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and keep a dated record of each check.
Do you have to register an AED in Hawaii?
No. Hawaii law doesn’t require AED owners to register an AED or report where it is. Telling your local EMS agency is still worth doing: some 911 centers can direct a caller to the nearest AED.
What does Hawaii law require after an AED is used?
Hawaii law doesn’t require a report after an AED is used. Call 911 anyway, then replace the pads, check the AED and its rescue kit, and write down what happened while it’s fresh.
Are AEDs required in Hawaii schools?
No. Hawaii law doesn’t require AEDs in schools or at school sports.
Do gyms in Hawaii need an AED?
No. Hawaii law doesn’t require health clubs or gyms to have an AED.
What does the Hawaii Good Samaritan law cover?
Anyone who gives emergency care in good faith at an accident or emergency, without pay or expecting pay, can’t be held liable for civil damages. Gross negligence and wanton acts or omissions are not covered (§ 663-1.5(a)).
Does the Hawaii Good Samaritan law protect someone who uses an AED?
Yes for the rescuer, less so for the owner. An unpaid good-faith rescuer using any AED is protected unless grossly negligent or wanton, but whoever provides the AED is shielded only from vicarious liability, not its own negligence (HRS § 663-1.5(e), (h)).
Which Hawaii laws cover AEDs?
Hawaii’s AED rules come from Haw. Rev. Stat. § 663-1.5, linked to its official text on this page.