Can You Own a Lion in Hawaii? What State and Federal Law Actually Say
July 9, 2026
Owning a lion in Hawaii is not a gray area. The African lion (Panthera leo) is one of the most tightly regulated animals in the United States, and Hawaii happens to be one of the strictest states in the country when it comes to exotic animal ownership. If you have been wondering whether a private citizen can legally keep a lion on the islands, the short answer is no — and the reasons run from state administrative code all the way to a federal law signed in 2022.
Understanding exactly why lions are off-limits in Hawaii, and what happens if someone tries to bring one in anyway, helps clarify just how seriously both state and federal authorities treat this issue. The rules are layered, and each layer adds another barrier to private lion ownership.
Is It Legal to Own a Lion in Hawaii?
No, it is not legal to own a lion in Hawaii. It is unlawful for people to introduce exotic animals for private use into Hawaii, and exotic animals explicitly include the Felidae family — lions, leopards, and cheetahs — along with the Canidae and Ursidae families. Lions fall squarely within this prohibition, and there is no private ownership permit available for them.
Hawaii has some of the strictest pet import and exotic animal laws in the U.S., designed to protect native plants and wildlife. That protective mission shapes every layer of the state’s animal regulations, and big cats like lions sit at the top of the prohibited list. If you are considering moving to Hawaii or already live there, a lion is simply not a pet you can legally keep under any circumstances as a private individual.
Key Insight: Hawaii’s prohibition on lions applies regardless of where the animal was born or whether you owned it in another state. Bringing a lion from the mainland to Hawaii would violate both state and federal law simultaneously.
What Federal Law Says About Lion Ownership
Even before Hawaii’s state rules come into play, federal law has effectively ended private lion ownership across the entire United States. The Big Cat Public Safety Act was enacted on December 20, 2022, to end the private ownership of big cats as pets and prohibit exhibitors from allowing public contact with big cats, including cubs. It placed new restrictions on the commerce, breeding, possession, and use of certain big cat species.
The Big Cat Public Safety Act makes it unlawful to import, export, transport, sell, receive, acquire, or purchase in interstate or foreign commerce, or in a manner substantially affecting interstate or foreign commerce, or breed or possess prohibited wildlife species — lions, tigers, leopards, snow leopards, clouded leopards, jaguars, cheetahs, and cougars, or any hybrids thereof — with certain exceptions. Lions are explicitly named in that list.
There are exceptions. The law does not apply to licensed facilities like zoos and sanctuaries that meet specific standards, as well as state universities and wildlife rehabilitation centers. A private individual keeping a lion at home does not qualify for any of these exemptions.
The law did include a narrow window for people who already owned lions before its passage. The Act set a one-time 180-day period from the date of passage (December 20, 2022) for registration. If you did not register each big cat in your possession with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by 11:59 p.m. on June 18, 2023, you are in violation of the law, unless another exception applies. That registration window is now permanently closed.
The Act does not allow pre-Act owners to acquire additional big cats after December 20, 2022. Only registered pre-Act big cats may be allowed to stay privately owned. In practical terms, this means no new private lion ownership is possible anywhere in the country, including Hawaii.
Hawaii’s Laws on Owning a Lion
Hawaii’s state-level rules on exotic animals predate the federal Big Cat Public Safety Act and are independently comprehensive. No person may possess nonnative exotic animals that are classed as predatory or undesirable as a “pet.” Nonnative exotic animals include, but are not limited to, bears, wolves, coyotes, weasels, badgers, hyenas, and all species of non-domesticated cats. Lions are non-domesticated cats, so they fall within this prohibition without any ambiguity.
The list of animals that people are allowed to own in Hawaii is extremely limited. It includes cats, dogs, cattle, beefalo, donkeys, sheep, goats, swine (including pot-bellied pigs), alpacas, and llamas. Otherwise, a person needs a permit, which is only given for scientific or medical reasons. Lions are not on the approved list, and a personal pet permit for one does not exist.
Hawaii’s isolated island ecosystem is incredibly fragile and unique. The state’s strict exotic animal laws exist to protect native wildlife, agriculture, and public health. Because Hawaii evolved in isolation for millions of years, many native species lack natural defenses against introduced predators and diseases. A large apex predator like a lion represents exactly the kind of biosecurity risk the state’s regulations are designed to prevent.
The governing regulations are found in Hawaii Administrative Rules §4-71-5, §4-71-6, §4-71-6.1, and §4-71-6.5, which are administered by the Hawaii Department of Agriculture. You can also explore how Hawaii’s broader approach to wildlife affects other species by reading about venomous animals in Hawaii and poisonous animals in Hawaii.
Permits and Requirements for Lion Ownership in Hawaii
There is no permit pathway for private lion ownership in Hawaii. In rare cases, organizations like zoos, research facilities, or educational institutions may obtain special permits for otherwise prohibited animals. These permits are extremely difficult to obtain and are not granted for personal pet ownership. If you are not operating an accredited zoo, a government research facility, or a similar institution, no permit application will result in legal lion ownership.
Persons may possess these animals if they are a licensed exhibitor — that is, for commercial, educational, or scientific uses. Even then, the federal Big Cat Public Safety Act imposes its own additional conditions on exhibitors, including restrictions on public contact and specific enclosure standards. A private hobbyist or pet owner does not meet the threshold for any of these institutional exceptions.
Important Note: Hawaii’s Department of Agriculture maintains the official List of Prohibited Animals under Hawaii Administrative Rules §4-71-6. Always consult that list and contact the HDOA directly before attempting to import any animal to the islands, as regulations can be updated.
For context on how Hawaii regulates other animals that might surprise you, see the state’s approach to snakes in Hawaii and lizards in Hawaii — two groups that also face strict restrictions under state law.
Local Laws That May Apply in Hawaii
Hawaii’s state prohibition on lions is absolute, but it is worth knowing that local ordinances can add another layer of restriction on top of state law. While your state may allow you to keep certain animals as pets, local laws can restrict ownership. State laws are frequently changing in response to concerns for public safety and animal well-being. You should always double-check for any new or proposed state or local legislation.
Each of Hawaii’s four counties — Honolulu, Maui, Hawaii (the Big Island), and Kauai — has its own animal control ordinances. These local rules typically mirror or reinforce state prohibitions rather than create exceptions to them. No county in Hawaii permits private lion ownership, and no local ordinance overrides the state’s blanket ban on non-domestic predatory animals.
If you are researching animal regulations in Hawaii more broadly, the county-level rules also affect common pets. For example, dog breed restrictions in Hawaii vary by county, and popular dog breeds in Hawaii reflect the practical choices residents make within those rules. The same principle applies to exotic animals: local government adds restrictions, not exemptions.
| Jurisdiction | Lion Ownership Status | Governing Authority |
|---|---|---|
| Federal (United States) | Prohibited for private individuals | Big Cat Public Safety Act (2022), U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service |
| State of Hawaii | Prohibited; all non-domestic cats banned | Hawaii Admin. Rules §4-71-5, §4-71-6 |
| Honolulu County | Prohibited | County animal control ordinances |
| Maui, Kauai, Hawaii Counties | Prohibited | County animal control ordinances |
Penalties for Illegally Owning a Lion in Hawaii
The consequences of illegally possessing a lion in Hawaii come from two directions at once: federal law and state law. At the federal level, the penalties are significant. A person who knowingly violates the Big Cat Public Safety Act must be fined not more than $20,000 or imprisoned for no more than five years, or both. The Act considers each violation to be a separate offense — meaning if you are found to have possessed, bred, transported, and sold a lion in violation of the law, each of those actions could be treated as a distinct offense with its own fine and potential prison term.
Violators are subject to civil or criminal penalties, or both, including potential fines, imprisonment, or both. Additionally, big cats bred, possessed, imported, exported, transported, sold, received, acquired, or purchased contrary to the provisions of the Act are subject to seizure and forfeiture. That means the lion itself would be taken from you, on top of any financial or criminal penalties.
State penalties can be added on top of federal ones, potentially leading to even steeper fines and longer jail time. Hawaii’s own violations under its animal importation statutes carry separate civil and criminal exposure. The combined weight of federal and state enforcement means that attempting to keep a lion in Hawaii is not just a regulatory infraction — it is a serious criminal matter.
Beyond the legal consequences, there are practical ones. Even a single escaped exotic pet could potentially devastate the local ecosystem. The Hawaii Department of Agriculture is responsible for enforcing these regulations, and they take their job seriously. Enforcement agencies treat illegal exotic animal possession as a public safety and environmental threat, not a minor paperwork issue. For more on how mountain lions compare in size and behavior to African lions, you can read about how much a mountain lion weighs and which American states have mountain lions.
Pro Tip: If you are passionate about big cats, consider supporting an accredited sanctuary rather than pursuing private ownership. Sanctuaries provide professional care for animals that cannot be returned to the wild, and many offer educational programs and volunteer opportunities.
Hawaii’s position on lion ownership is consistent, legally reinforced, and unlikely to change. Both state administrative rules and the federal Big Cat Public Safety Act make private lion ownership impossible for residents of the islands. If you are curious about what animals you can legally keep in Hawaii, the approved list is short — sticking to domestic animals and the small number of species on the state’s conditionally approved roster is the only path that keeps you on the right side of the law. For more on Hawaii’s unique wildlife, explore types of jellyfish in Hawaii, types of butterflies in Hawaii, and types of bees in Hawaii.