Hawaii Administrative Rules › Title 13 - DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES › Subtitle 11 - OCEAN RECREATION AND COASTAL AREAS › Part 2 - BOATING › Chapter 244 - RULES OF THE ROAD; LOCAL AND SPECIAL RULES › Section 13-244-18 - Waterskiing; dangerous practices prohibited; hand signals

Current through June, 2024
(a)
				  No motorboat which shall have in tow or shall be otherwise assisting a person
				  on water skis, aquaplane or similar contrivance, shall be operated or propelled
				  in or upon any waterway, unless such motorboat shall be occupied by at least
				  two competent persons, one of whom shall observe at all times the progress of
				  the person or persons being towed; provided, that this subsection shall not
				  apply to motorboats used in duly authorized water-ski tournaments,
				  competitions, expositions, or trials therefor, or to any motorboat equipped
				  with an adequate rear view mirror. A rear view mirror shall be considered
				  adequate if it permits the operator to see the person being towed when that
				  person is within the towboat wakes on a seventy-five foot line and to identify
				  common hand signals used by the person being towed. An observer shall be
				  considered competent if, in fact, the observer is at all times observing the
				  progress of the person or persons being towed and is accurately relaying
				  signals or other pertinent information to the vessel operator concerning the
				  progress of the person being towed.
This subsection shall not apply to vessels less than
					 sixteen feet in length actually operated by the person or persons being towed
					 and so constructed as to be incapable of carrying the operator in or on the
					 vessel.
(b) No motorboat
				  shall have in tow or shall otherwise be assisting a person on water skis,
				  aquaplane or similar contrivance during the period from sunset to sunrise;
				  provided, that this subsection shall not apply to motorboats used in duly
				  authorized water-ski tournaments, competitions, expositions, or trials
				  therefor.
(c) All motorboats having
				  in tow or otherwise assisting a person on water skis, aquaplane or similar
				  contrivance, shall be operated in a careful and prudent manner and at a
				  reasonable distance from persons or property so as not to endanger the life or
				  property of any person.
(d) No
				  person shall operate or manipulate any vessel, towrope or other devices by
				  which the direction or location of water skis, an aquaplane, or similar device
				  may be affected or controlled in such a way as to cause the water skis,
				  aquaplane or similar devices, or any person thereon to collide with or strike
				  against any person or object.
This subsection does not apply to collisions with towlines
					 nor to collisions of two or more persons, aquaplanes or similar devices being
					 towed behind the same vessel, nor to collisions with ski jumps, buoys or
					 similar objects normally used in competitive or recreational
					 waterskiing.
(e) No person
				  shall operate any motorboat towing or otherwise assisting a person on water
				  skis, aquaplane or similar contrivance unless such vessel is equipped with a
				  ladder, steps or similar means by which any person being towed can be taken
				  from the water; provided, that this subsection shall not apply to motorboats
				  used in duly authorized water-ski tournaments, competitions, expositions, or
				  trials therefor.
(f) No person
				  shall operate any motorboat towing or otherwise assisting a person on water
				  skis, aquaplane or similar contrivance unless the person being towed is
				  equipped with a lifesaving device; provided that this subsection shall not
				  apply to persons participating in authorized water-ski tournaments,
				  competitions, expositions, or trials therefor.
(g) No person who is under the influence of
				  intoxicating liquor or who is a habitual user of or under the influence of any
				  drug to a degree which renders the person incapable of safely manipulating
				  water skis or aquaplane or similar contrivance shall manipulate waterskis, an
				  aquaplane or similar contrivance on the waters of the State.
(h) The following uniform system of hand
				  signals shall be used by water-skiers while engaged in water-skiing activity:
(1) Faster. Palm of the hand pointing
				  upward.
(2) Slower. Palm of the
				  hand pointing downward.
(3) Speed
				  correct. Arm upraised with the thumb and forefinger forming a circle.
(4) Right turn. Arm outstretched pointing to
				  the right.
(5) Left turn. Arm
				  outstretched pointing to the left.
(6) Back to the drop-off area. Arm at
				  forty-five degrees angle from body pointing down to water and
				  swinging.
(7) Cut motor. Finger
				  drawn across throat.
(8) Stop. Hand
				  up, palm forward, police traffic style.
(9) Skier unhurt (O.K.) after fall. Hands
				  clenched overhead.
(10) Pick me
				  up--fallen skier--watch out. One ski held vertical (pointing skyward) as far
				  out of the water as practicable.