Car seat & booster law
Hawaii
Verified · JUN 2026Quick answer · Hawaii
A car seat or booster is required until your child is 10 years old.
Children under 2 must ride rear-facing, then in a rear- or forward-facing harness, then in a harness or booster until age 10. A child 7 to 9 who is over 4 feet 9 inches may use a seat belt.
Car seat law checker
The legally required restraint, by state.
General information, not legal advice.
SeatCheckerRequired vs recommended
What the law enforces, and what pediatricians advise. They are not the same.
The law requires
Minimum, or it's enforceable
- Rear-facing until
- Age 2
- Booster until
- Age 10
- Back seat
- Not required
Pediatricians recommend
AAP — safer, not the law
- Rear-facing until
- To seat limit (often age 2+)
- Booster until
- 4'9" — typically age 8–12
- Back seat
- Until age 13
AAP guidance is a safety best practice and is separate from Hawaii's legal minimum. Hawaii's law is among the stronger ones, requiring a restraint or booster through age 9 in most cases.
Every stage, by the law
Dual units shown throughout (in + cm, lb + kg). Rows marked Guidance are best practice, not a statutory requirement in Hawaii.
| Stage | Age | Height | Weight | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rear-facing | Birth – 2 yr | — | — | Haw. Rev. Stat. § 291-11.5 |
| Forward-facing | 2 yr – 10 yr | — | — | Haw. Rev. Stat. § 291-11.5 |
| Booster | until 10 yr | — | — | Haw. Rev. Stat. § 291-11.5 |
| Seat belt | 10 yr + | — | — | Haw. Rev. Stat. § 291-11.5 |
| Back seat | Recommended < 13 | — | — | Guidance |
- Age
- Birth – 2 yr
- Age
- 2 yr – 10 yr
- Age
- until 10 yr
- Age
- 10 yr +
- Age
- Recommended < 13