Hawaii · off-grid water rights
Whether a new off-grid home can legally get its own water in Hawaii: the state well and water-rights rules, then the 2 counties where a specific groundwater basin adds a catch — each cited to the state water agency.
Hawaii water rules
No well may be drilled without CWRM permits (HAR 13-168), including inside a designated Ground Water Management Area. But individual domestic use and rain-catchment are EXEMPT from the Water Use Permit even inside a designated area (HRS 174C-48) — a household faces construction permitting, not appropriation permitting.
Limit: CWRM Well Construction + Pump Installation Permit required statewide before drilling
Hawaii CWRM — Well Construction & Pump Installation; HRS 174C-48 ↗DOH guidelines / UPC Ch.16; counties allow washing-machine subsurface in unsewered areas.
Greywater Action / EPA REUSExplorer ↗Public-trust State Water Code recognizing appurtenant + correlative rights.
National Agricultural Law Center ↗2 constrained counties in Hawaii
One email a week: the best counties to live off-grid, rule changes that matter, and Hawaii water-rule changes as basins close. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
See the full Hawaii county ranking, compare states on the water-rights hub, or read how water access is scored. Physical water is dimmed — never erased — where a county sits in one of these basins, household-first.
General guidance, not legal advice. Off-grid, building, and land-use rules are often set at the county level and change often. Verify with your county and state before acting. Data reviewed 2026-06-26.