Hawaii: What IS a "fighting knife"

The Government

The Government

Joined
Aug 21, 2009
Messages
2,932
After mining through past threads about Hawaiian knife laws, I am still rather confused. I lived in Maui Hawaii for 5 years and I am in the process of moving back. Now that I am a full blown knife nut, it is in my best interests to know how to correctly interpret knife laws.

In essence, it is illegal to carry a knife that is built for the purpose of killing/ fighting, YET -a dive knife is legal since it has a specific purpose. (:rolleyes: -Many "dive knives" are double edged daggers with one side PE and one side serrated -and they would make excellent fighting knives.)

My concern however is not about dive knives, but rather the interpretation of killing/ fighting knives.

My primary concerns are my EDC folders which will be concealed (pocket clip showing, but who can really verify that that is not concealed?). I am going to be carrying a SAK, Spyderco Salt 1 and Military, and/ or an Ontario RAT 1.

It is the the Spyderco Military that seems to be far too purpose built as a fighting/ utility knife. I am worried it would be considered illegal and taken away from me.

I have no worries about using fixed blades and dive knives when I am outdoors hiking or diving. The EDC folders are really where the law needs more interpretation -at least for me.

So what do you all think -Is my Spyderco military safe from legal scrutiny? What about the other locking folders?

Is the appropriate answer, "it depends on what I look like and my perceived intent?

Is it an absolute NO -since the MILITARY would obviously be interpreted as a fighting knife?

Thanks everyone. :):thumbup:

PS- I know that I can get away with it, but I want ZERO risk of it being taken. If there is risk, I will just stick to me cheap knives, and only carry the mili when outdoors.
 
Last edited:
Check with the local dive shops and/or cutlery shops to see how the police enforce Hawaii's knife laws. They would be your best source of information, since word travels quickly in those type of circles. I suppose it also would depend upon the circumstances that your knife was discovered by law enforcement officers. On your boat, most likely OK. In the trunk of your car or locked in the tool box in the back of your pickup truck, most likely OK. Concealed beneath your shirt while drinking in some joint on a Saturday night? You will likely be arrested or at least get seriously hassled if discovered by a LEO.
 
I know one of the most strict officers in town -I'll try asking him when I see him. Still though, I would like to know exactly where I stand by law, and not just an officers discretion.
 
The Government said:
I know one of the most strict officers in town -I'll try asking him when I see him. Still though, I would like to know exactly where I stand by law, and not just an officers discretion.
Click to expand...
If you have time, check the local newspapers for knife-related arrests and sit in on the cases in district court. You will actually see the knife that got the defendant charged (prosecution exhibit) and listen to the prosecutor decribe the circumstances under which the discovery of the knife and the subsequent arrest were made.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top