Hawaii Grease Trap Regulations (2026)
Everything a Hawaii restaurant or commercial kitchen needs to know about grease trap requirements: who regulates it, how often you must clean, what permits and registration you need, what records to keep, and what violations actually cost. Citations link to the official source so you can verify every claim — and show your inspector you did.
Hawaii Requirements at a Glance
| Cleaning frequency | No single statewide interval in HAR 11-62 — counties set schedules. Honolulu requires a documented cleaning schedule, with municipal guidance following the 25% capacity rule (and noting the tropical climate accelerates FOG buildup). |
| State regulator | Hawaii Department of Health (HDOH), Wastewater Branch |
| Governing regulation | Hawaii Administrative Rules Ch. 11-62 (Wastewater Systems) — §11-62-50(b)(4) requires all grease haulers to register with HDOH; §11-62-62 requires record-keeping; HRS Ch. 342D (Water Pollution) |
| Manifest required | Yes — pumper/hauler firms must keep records available to any state, county, or federal wastewater agency on request (HAR 11-62-62) (source) |
| Licensed hauler required | Yes — HDOH Wastewater Branch Pumper/Hauler Registration (HAR 11-62-50(b)(4)), renewed every even year — after state registration, haulers also need a county discharge permit to dispose at municipal treatment works (source) |
| Record retention | records must be kept and available to any state/county/federal wastewater agency on request (specific year period not stated in the rule) (source) |
| Penalties | Civil penalties up to $60,000 per day per violation under HRS §342D-30, with each day a separate offense. (source) |
Who Regulates Grease Traps in Hawaii
At the state level, Hawaii Department of Health (HDOH), Wastewater Branch (program page) oversees FOG (fats, oils, and grease) discharge; the governing rule is Hawaii Administrative Rules Ch. 11-62 (Wastewater Systems) — §11-62-50(b)(4) requires all grease haulers to register with HDOH; §11-62-62 requires record-keeping; HRS Ch. 342D (Water Pollution). Day-to-day enforcement — inspections, cleaning intervals, fines — usually happens through your city or county sewer utility's pretreatment program, which can set stricter rules than the state.
Hauler Licensing & Verification
Hawaii requires grease trap waste to be transported by licensed/registered haulers under HDOH Wastewater Branch Pumper/Hauler Registration (HAR 11-62-50(b)(4)), renewed every even year — after state registration, haulers also need a county discharge permit to dispose at municipal treatment works. (source) Before signing a contract, verify the hauler's registration on the official lookup — it takes two minutes and it's the single best protection against illegal-dumping liability landing on you.
Manifests & Record Keeping
- Collect a signed manifest (pumper/hauler firms must keep records available to any state, county, or federal wastewater agency on request (HAR 11-62-62)) at every service — date, volume removed, hauler license, disposal facility. (source)
- Keep records records must be kept and available to any state/county/federal wastewater agency on request (specific year period not stated in the rule). (source)
- Track everything in one place: free maintenance log and cleaning schedule template.
City Programs in Hawaii
Cities run their own FOG programs and often set stricter rules than the state:
Honolulu
- Program: City and County of Honolulu Dept. of Environmental Services FOG / Grease Interceptor Program
- Ordinance: Revised Ordinances of Honolulu; Grease Interceptor Program (2002, updated 2010)
- Cleaning frequency: Documented cleaning schedule required; interval set case-by-case by ENV
- Permit: Industrial Wastewater Discharge Permit required; interceptor installation needs ENV review and approval
Worth Knowing in Hawaii
Hawaii runs a distinctive two-tier hauler system: grease haulers register at the state level with the Health Department (HAR 11-62), then separately obtain a county discharge permit to dump at municipal treatment plants. The state publishes a current statewide pumper/hauler list you can check, and state penalties run to $60,000 per day.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often must grease traps be cleaned in Hawaii?
No single statewide interval in HAR 11-62 — counties set schedules. Honolulu requires a documented cleaning schedule, with municipal guidance following the 25% capacity rule (and noting the tropical climate accelerates FOG buildup). Your city's FOG program may require more frequent service — and regardless of the legal interval, clean before fats, oils, and grease reach 25% of trap capacity.
Do I need a manifest for grease trap cleaning in Hawaii?
Yes. Get a signed manifest (pumper/hauler firms must keep records available to any state, county, or federal wastewater agency on request (HAR 11-62-62)) from the hauler at every service and keep it records must be kept and available to any state/county/federal wastewater agency on request (specific year period not stated in the rule). It's the document inspectors ask for first.
What are the penalties for grease trap violations in Hawaii?
Civil penalties up to $60,000 per day per violation under HRS §342D-30, with each day a separate offense. Enforcement is usually municipal, so your city's fine schedule controls — the fastest way to stay off it is a maintained cleaning schedule and complete records.
Can anyone pump my grease trap in Hawaii?
No — use a licensed/registered hauler (HDOH Wastewater Branch Pumper/Hauler Registration (HAR 11-62-50(b)(4)), renewed every even year — after state registration, haulers also need a county discharge permit to dispose at municipal treatment works). If your hauler dumps illegally, the paper trail you kept is your protection. Verify registration on the official lookup linked above.
Do I need a permit for a grease trap in Hawaii?
In most Hawaii cities, yes — food service establishments must register with, or get a permit from, the local FOG / pretreatment program before discharging grease trap waste to the sewer. The exact permit and registration requirements vary by city; the major-city programs are listed above, and your local sewer authority has the specifics for your address.
Next Steps
- Find grease trap cleaning companies in Hawaii
- Run the Hawaii-adapted compliance checklist
- Put manifests and pricing in writing (free template)
Official Sources
- https://health.hawaii.gov/wastewater/
- https://health.hawaii.gov/wastewater/home/rule/
- https://health.hawaii.gov/wastewater/home/pumperhauler/
- https://health.hawaii.gov/wastewater/files/2025/08/StatePumperHaulerListing.pdf
- https://www.honolulu.gov/env/eq/regulatory-control/
- https://law.justia.com/codes/hawaii/title-19/chapter-342d/section-342d-30/
This guide summarizes official sources for general information and is not legal advice. Rules change — confirm requirements with Hawaii Department of Health (HDOH), Wastewater Branch and your local FOG program.
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