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A vacation or a staycation is always a bit more fun with your dog, right? Traveling with the whole family always requires a bit more planning than a normal getaway, but it’s worth it to explore a new place or area with your best furry friend, or in my case friends. So, whether you live here or are planning a move here, today I’m sharing the dog friendly guide to Hawaii, with a little bonus on where to stay for any residents looking to staycation in the Hawaiian Islands with their pet!
Today I’m sharing the dog friendly guide to Hawaii, so whether you are visiting Oahu, Maui, Kauai or Hawaii Island, there’s a little something for each place. I’m covering where to stay, where to hike, where to go to the beach and most importantly…where to eat 🙂
Dog Friendly Guide To Hawaii
Dog Friendly Rentals In Hawaii
Getting a dog friendly hotel in Hawaii can be a bit of a challenge, so finding pet-friendly rentals is often a much easier way to go. Have you heard of Vacasa? Vacasa is North America’s largest full-service vacation rental management company with over 13,000 homes across 30 U.S. states and 16 countries. On their website, you can browse rentals, find a pet-friendly Vacasa for your next trip and book confidently. You will always get the guaranteed best price on Vacasa.com.
I’ve picked out a few dog-friendly Vacasa rentals below, but always make sure to click “dog friendly” under ‘Amenities’ before you book just to be sure. Still have questions? You can learn more by visiting Vacasa.com.
Top To Bottom (Poolside in Kihei | Ocean Front in Hanalei | Oceanview in Lahaina)
Now that we’ve covered where you and your four-legged family members should stay, let’s move on to what you should do!
Dog Friendly Hikes In Hawaii
Up for an off-the-beaten path adventure with the whole family? Hiking in Hawaii offers some of the best views on every single island, but not every hike is dog-friendly due to deteriorated trails, protected nature preserves, etc. As always, it’s important to keep your dog on a leash, bring plenty of water for them to stay hydrated and bring poop bags to clean up after them. It’s also important to note that in Hawaii chickens and wild pigs are the norm, so be on the lookout. Here are a few dog-friendly hikes across the state:
Makapuu Lighthouse Trail | Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii
Waihee Ridge Trail | Wailuki, Maui, Hawaii
Moalepe Trail | Waimea, Kauai, Hawaii
Walua Trail | Kona, Hawaii, Hawaii

Dog Friendly Beaches In Hawaii
Hawaii offers some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. And what dog doesn’t love cooling down in the water on a hot day? Keep in mind that they must be leashed at all times. You will, of course, see exceptions to this, but state law mandates leashed pups at all times, so how you interpret that is entirely up to you. Leash law violations come with a hefty fine of $500 or more.
Here are the top dog-friendly beaches in Hawaii:
Laie Beach | Laie, Oahu, Hawaii
Baldwin Beach Park | Paia, Maui, Hawaii
Mahaulepu Beach | Poipu, Kauai, Hawaii
Beach at Honokohau Harbor | Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, Hawaii
Dog Friendly Restaurants In Hawaii
The nicest part about living in Hawaii is that the weather is nice most days, 365 days per year. That said, many restaurants utilize outdoor space for tables and additional seating, which means there are ample opportunities for pets to tag along. Please keep in mind that state health codes require animals to stay outside of eating establishments, and even though an eatery may have outdoor eating space, it doesn’t always mean they welcome dogs. Don’t forget to be a thoughtful pet parent and bring your own dish for water!
Here are the top dog-friendly restaurants across the state:
TOWN | Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii – Chef Ed Kenney is truly one of the best in the islands, incorporating a farm-to-table theme at all of his restaurants on Oahu.
Down The Hatch | Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii – Down The Hatch, A Place To Eat Fish has been serving the island of Maui since 2015 and serves breakfast, lunch, happy hour, dinner + late night fare.
Kauai Beer Company | Lihue, Kauai, Hawaii – Open Monday-Saturday, Kauai Beer Co. has a robust list of house-made brew and cider, as well as a delicious pub-style menu.
Island Lava Java | Kona + Waikoloa Village, Hawaii Island, Hawaii – Island Lava Java, Bistro and Grill has been in business since 1994 and has two locations on Hawaii Island, commonly referred to as “The Big Island”, that serve a wide variety of dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Adventuring with your dog in Hawaii can be fun for everyone with just a little bit of advanced planning. There are so many beautiful spots in Hawaii that are dog friendly, so this is not an exhaustive list. I think one could live in the Hawaiian Islands there whole life and not know every single spot. I hope this was helpful for anyone looking for dog friendly spots in Hawaii!