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Click for Safe Kids Worldwide Ultimate Car Seat Guide

Click for Safe Kids Worldwide Ultimate Car Seat Guide

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UPDATED Hawai‘i Child Passenger Safety Law

What parents and caregivers need to know.
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The Law

A new law, effective June 27, 2022, requires children under the age of two to ride rear-facing, raises the age at which a child must use a child passenger restraint or booster seat to ten years old, and increases fines for certain violations. See the new Child Passenger Safety Law, click here.

New Child Passenger Safety Law Overview:

  • If the child is under two years of age, the child must be properly restrained in a rear-facing car seat with harness.
  • If a child is two years or older but less than four years old, the child must be properly restrained in a rear-facing or forward-facing car seat with harness.
  • All children under ten years old must be properly restrained regardless of how many seat belt assemblies are in the vehicle.
  • Violators of the law will be required by the court to attend a child passenger safety class approved by the Hawaii State Judiciary.

Hawaii Tax Credit

A Hawai’i state tax credit of $25 per year applies to the purchase of a child safety seat.

Rear-Facing:

  • Always read instructions for both the car seat and vehicle for proper installation.
  • Keep children in a rear-facing car safety seat as long as possible, until child meets the height or weight maximum of the seat (minimum of 2 years of age).
  • Harness straps should be routed through slots that are at or below the child’s shoulders.
  • Keep harness straps snug (should not be able to pinch harness at shoulders).
  • Place chest clip at armpit level.
  • Never put a rear-facing seat in the front seat with an active airbag.
  • Recline car seat according to the level indicator on the car seat.
  • Thread vehicle belt or LATCH anchor strap through rear-facing belt path.
  • Never leave baby alone in and around vehilces.

Forward-Facing with Harness:

  • Always read instructions for both the car seat and vehicle for proper installation.
  • Keep children in a forward-facing car safety with a harness seat as long as possible, until child meets the height or weight maximum of the seat (minimum of 4 years of age).
  • Harness straps should be routed through slots that are at or above the child’s shoulders.
  • Keep harness straps snug (should not be able to pinch harness at shoulders).
  • Place chest clip at armpit level.
  • Thread vehicle belt or LATCH anchor strap through forward-facing belt path.
  • Use the Top Tether according to the instructions.
  • Never leave a child alone in and around vehilces.

Booster seats:

  • Always read instructions for both the booster seat and vehicle for proper use.
  • Children should ride in the back seat until at least the age of 13.
  • Always use the shoulder and lap belt.
  • Shoulder belt should be across the chest and lap belt should be low across the hips.
  • Never allow the child to place the shoulder belt under the arm or behind the back.
  • Use a high-back booster seat if the vehicle does not have a head restraint.
  • Never leave a child alone in and around vehicles.

Seat Belts:

  • Most children need to ride in a booster seat until age 10-12 years (at a minimum of 9 years old).
  • Children should ride in the back seat until at least the age of 13.
  • The child must sit back all the way with the back against the vehicle seat.
  • The child’s knees must bend comfortable over the seat cushion.
  • The shoulder belt must fit comfortably across the shoulder and chest (never on the neck).
  • The lab belt needs to be worn low across the hips (never on the stomache).
  • The child needs to sit this way for the entire trip.