In Hawaii in 2026, the core rule for right turns on red remains the same as in recent years: you may generally make a right turn after stopping at a red light unless a sign or traffic signal explicitly prohibits it.
The change in practice, however, is that some intersections now post “No Right Turn on Red” signs for safety, and drivers must obey those signs or face fines.
What Hawaii’s law allows
Under Hawaii Revised Statutes § 291C‑32, a driver facing a steady red light must come to a complete stop at the stop line or before entering the crosswalk.
If the signal is not a red arrow and there is no “No Right Turn on Red” sign, the driver may then make a right turn, but only after yielding to pedestrians, oncoming vehicles, and any traffic that has the right‑of‑way.
When right turns on red are banned
Hawaii law allows individual counties (e.g., Honolulu, Maui, Kauai, Hawaii County) to prohibit right turns on red at specific intersections via local ordinance.
Those prohibitions become enforceable as soon as a “No Right Turn on Red” sign is installed at the intersection. If you see that sign, even if the main light is a red ball rather than a red arrow, turning right on red is illegal and can result in a traffic citation.
Practical 2026 tips for drivers
- Stop fully and look for the sign: Before turning right on a red ball light, stop completely, check for “No Right Turn on Red” signage, and watch for pedestrians and cross‑traffic.
- Respect red‑arrow signals and extra‑busy intersections: Many busy or high‑risk intersections in Honolulu and other urban areas now carry the “No Right Turn on Red” sign, especially near schools, bus stops, and turning‑bus‑only lanes.
- Avoid fines and crashes: Running a red‑light‑related violation can bring significant fines (often around $270 or more, depending on the county and offense), so obeying the right‑turn‑on‑red rules is both a safety and a legal imperative.
In short, Hawaii’s 2026 “right turn on red” rule is still relatively permissive, but the added signage at major intersections means you must stop, read the signs, and yield carefully before turning.
SOURCES :
- https://hidot.hawaii.gov/highways/safety-camera-systems/red-light-safety-program/
- https://www.reddit.com/r/Hawaii/comments/10587fl/state_adds_more_no_right_turn_on_red_signs_at/
