University of Hawaiʻi Policies Restrict Animals on Campus
The University of Hawaiʻi (UH) System maintains a firm policy regarding animals on its campuses, allowing only service animals and emotional support animals (ESAs) approved by the university, according to Executive Policy 1.207, effective August 2020. The policy, last reviewed in August 2023, aims to balance accessibility for individuals with disabilities with the need to maintain a safe and welcoming learning and working environment.
As of , other animals are prohibited within University buildings, facilities, and premises. This restriction applies across the entire UH System, though individual campuses may have additional guidelines regarding animals not classified as service or emotional support animals.
The policy defines Service Animals as dogs individually trained to perform work or tasks for individuals with disabilities, encompassing physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disabilities. The definition explicitly states that Service Animals are working animals, not pets.
The University of Hawaiʻi System’s commitment to equal access for individuals with disabilities is underscored by the policy, which aligns with both federal and state laws. It also references Board of Regents Policy RP 1.205, Policy on Nondiscrimination and Affirmative Action.
Beyond the UH System’s overarching policy, local, state, and federal laws also play a role in animal welfare and regulation within the community. The Hawaiian Humane Society notes that enforcement of these laws is shared between various agencies, including themselves and the Honolulu Police Department.
County laws, specifically Chapter 12 of the Revised Ordinance of Honolulu, cover a range of animal regulations on Oʻahu. These include mandatory identification for dogs and cats, leash laws for dogs, regulations concerning dangerous dogs, prohibitions against cockfighting, and requirements for reporting found cats to animal control. The ordinance addresses noise nuisances related to dogs and roosters, limits on the number of dogs and chickens allowed, and rules for dogs in city parks.
State laws, outlined in Chapter 711 of Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes, address offenses against public order, including provisions for animal cruelty – encompassing necessary sustenance, first and second-degree cruelty, forfeiture of animals in cruelty cases, and prohibitions against dog fighting and animal sexual assault. Other state laws cover animal abandonment, mandatory reporting of found dogs, quarantine requirements for pets entering Hawaiʻi, extending temporary restraining orders to pets, pet deposits for rental units, and the use of pets as therapy animals in healthcare centers.
Federal laws also contribute to the legal framework surrounding animals, including prohibitions against animal fighting and laws governing Service and Emotional Support Animals. Disaster response planning is required to include the needs of pet owners.
A separate policy at the University of Houston System, while not directly related to the UH System in Hawaiʻi, provides a comparative example of campus animal regulations. The University of Houston System restricts animals on campus to Service Animals, Emotional Support Animals, animals representing the university’s mascot with specific authorization, research animals approved by the animal care committee, and animals authorized for temporary use during university-sponsored events. Live-In-Professionals are also permitted to have a limited number of dogs or cats with prior approval.
Currently, the City and County of Honolulu is undertaking a Complete Streets project on Dole Street between University Avenue and St. Louis Drive, repaving the roadway and making layout changes to improve safety for all users. This project, in accordance with City ordinance ROH 14-18, aims to enhance safety for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers alike.
