KAILUA, Hawaii — A decades-old island tradition is facing new limits after Hawaii officials confirmed a law raising the legal age for riding in open truck beds from 12 to 16, following growing concern over deaths on increasingly fast-moving roads.
Democratic Governor Josh Green signed the measure last month, according to officials. Green, a physician, has a personal connection to the issue — in 2023 he witnessed a 25-year-old man thrown from a truck bed while driving nearby and stopped to provide emergency aid himself.
Riding in open pickup beds remains a deeply rooted custom across Hawaii’s rural communities, tied to plantation-era history when workers were transported through fields this way. For many residents, it represents a connection to a simpler, slower version of island life. But as highways have modernized and speeds increased, particularly on the island of Oahu, safety officials say the risk of fatal ejections has grown sharply.
State lawmaker Darius Kila, who introduced the legislation, said he originally pushed for even stricter limits, including a full ban on certain highways, but backed off after fierce public resistance. He said many families in rural areas still rely on truck beds simply because their vehicles don’t have enough seating for everyone.
According to vehicle safety researchers, Hawaii now joins 29 other states and Washington, D.C. that impose some restriction on truck bed riding, though most, including Hawaii, still allow exceptions for farm work, parades, emergencies, and situations where a truck’s cab is full.
Safety experts have compared resistance to these restrictions with earlier public pushback against seat belt and helmet laws, warning that open truck beds offer no protection during collisions. Officials say the new law may be an early step toward tighter restrictions in the future, with some predicting the practice could eventually be banned altogether as safety awareness grows.
