Obstructing Government Operations
HRS 710-1010 — violence, force or a physical obstacle against an officer's work, and never a recording
Obstructing government operations is intentionally obstructing, impairing or hindering a public servant's governmental function, or an officer's enforcement of the law, by using or threatening violence, force, or a physical interference or obstacle. It is a misdemeanor.
Who handles this in Hawaii: Hawaii State Bar Association, Lawyer Referral and Information Service; and legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the Hawaii directory.
- It does not apply to obstructing the making of an arrest.
- It does not apply to a labor dispute with the government.
- It does not apply to making a video or audio recording, or taking a photograph, of an officer performing duties in a public place or where the officer has no reasonable expectation of privacy.
The officer may still take reasonable action to maintain safety and control, secure crime and accident scenes, protect investigations, and protect public safety.
Sources for this section (1)
- HRS 710-1010 — Obstructing government operations
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Hawaii attorney.