Hawaii just drew the line the e-bike industry has been asking states to draw. Bicycle Retailer and Industry News reports that Gov. Josh Green signed HB2021 into law on Wednesday, an e-mobility bill that defines high-speed e-motos, bans them from certain locations, and regulates low-speed e-bikes the same as regular, non-electric bicycles.
For most riders on the islands, that second part is the good news. If your machine qualifies as a low-speed e-bike under the new law, Hawaii regulates it the same as a non-electric bike. If it falls into the category the industry calls e-motos, the state has stopped pretending it is a bicycle.
The new law adopts the three-class e-bike system, and it arrived after what the Hawaii Bicycling League describes as years of outreach, education, and advocacy to update the statewide traffic code with definitions and guidelines for e-bikes and micromobility devices.
What HB2021 Actually Does
The core of the law is a sorting exercise. HB2021 adopts the three-class e-bike system, a framework many US states use to sort e-bikes. If the class system is new to you, our guide to e-bike classes 1, 2, and 3 walks through how the three categories generally work, though Hawaii’s exact definitions live in the statute.
Once a machine qualifies as a low-speed e-bike under the new law, Hawaii regulates it the same as a non-electric bicycle. What that means for a specific class of e-bike in a specific place is a statutory question the report does not answer, so do not assume every class gets identical access to every road, lane, or path. Verify HB2021’s definitions and allowed locations before relying on a classification.
The bill was not a solo effort. Per the report, the Hawaii Bicycling League worked with PeopleForBikes and the League of American Bicyclists on the bill’s language. The report does not say how closely Hawaii’s definitions track other states’ three-class laws, so do not assume a bike that is legal in another three-class state is automatically legal in Hawaii, or the reverse.
The E-Moto Ban Is the Headline
The reason this bill exists is the machine that is not an e-bike. The Hawaii Bicycling League says the state’s regulatory framework had not kept pace as high-speed electric devices, often called e-motos, entered the marketplace “masquerading as e-bikes and contributing to serious traffic injuries and fatalities.”
Under the new law, the league says, these devices “will be specifically prohibited from operating on shared public roadways, bike lanes, streets and sidewalks.” That is a broad list, but the report does not say what riding options, if any, remain for e-motos, and it does not describe these machines beyond the league’s characterization. Where an e-moto can still legally operate is a question only the statute can answer.
What the report does not include is the exact technical definition of an e-moto, the specific power or speed thresholds, or the penalties for riding one where it is now banned. Those details live in the statute. If you are not sure which side of the line your machine falls on, our guide to why your electric dirt bike might not be an e-bike explains the difference in plain terms, and it was written for exactly this situation.
Wheelies, Helmets, and the $30 Fee
The law reaches riding behavior too. Per the report, HB2021 addresses unsafe riding behaviors by making wheelies and other stunts illegal. The report does not say what motivated that provision or how it will be enforced, so we will not speculate beyond what it covers.
Two housekeeping items round out the bill. Hawaii keeps its one-time $30 registration fee, which the report notes has long been required, with the money helping support bike infrastructure and education. This is a retention, not a new charge, so current registered riders should not read it as a fresh cost.
The law also standardizes a helmet requirement for riders under 18. The report does not detail what the requirement was before or exactly what the standardized version requires, so check the statute or local guidance for the specifics.
What Hawaii Riders and Buyers Should Do Now
A few practical moves follow directly from the reporting.
- Figure out what you are actually riding. The three-class system is now Hawaii law. If your bike has a class sticker, that is a starting point, not a legal determination, so verify it against HB2021’s own definitions. Our e-bike classes guide explains how the categories generally work, and a knowledgeable shop can help in person. Our dealer directory can point you to one.
- If you are shopping, do not treat a class label as the whole answer. A clearly labeled Class 1, 2, or 3 e-bike from a reputable brand is the natural starting point, but a label alone does not settle whether a machine meets Hawaii’s statutory definitions. Verify the bike against HB2021’s text before treating the purchase as compliant. If this is your first purchase, start with our guide to choosing a first e-bike.
- If you own an e-moto, read the statute before you ride. The league’s description of the prohibition covers roadways, bike lanes, streets and sidewalks. Where these machines can still legally operate is a question the report does not answer, so get it from the law itself.
- Confirm the basics before relying on any of this. Verify HB2021’s definitions, its effective date, the locations it allows for your machine, and how your county implements it. The report covers none of those details.
- Keep your registration current. The one-time $30 fee has long been required and the report says it supports bike infrastructure and education. It is the cheapest part of compliance.
- Check the wider picture if you ride across state lines. Our e-bike laws by state guide covers how the three-class framework plays out around the country.
Hawaii is not the only state working out where fast electric machines belong, and the advocacy groups behind this bill are national organizations. Whether other states follow Hawaii’s approach is a question for future reporting, not this article.
FAQ
FAQ
+What does Hawaii's HB2021 do?
+What counts as an e-moto under the new law?
+Can I still ride my Class 1, 2, or 3 e-bike in Hawaii?
+Where are e-motos banned now?
+Do I have to pay a new fee or wear a helmet under HB2021?
We will follow how Hawaii defines and enforces the e-moto prohibition once the statutory details and any implementation guidance become public.