Prepare information in advance Before you call (or file online), gather the info the call center will need. According to HI-811, the required information includes:
Your name, phone number, email, and mailing address
Alternate contact name / phone (in case operators need clarification)
Type of work (excavation, drilling, demolition, etc.)
Who the work is being done for (owner / contractor)
Island, county, city of the work
Address, or street name
Nearest cross street
Distance and direction from the intersection (if no precise address)
Marking instructions (where exactly the excavation is)
Tax Map Key (TMK) number or GPS coordinates, if available
Pre-marking of the excavation area in white spray chalk (per Hawaii law)
Contact the One Call Center (Call or Online) You have two main paths:
By phone: Dial 811 (or 1-866-423-7287) to get through to the Hawaii One Call Center.Online: Go to the Dig Safely Hawaii website (www.digsafelyhawaii.com) and file a locate request via their online ticketing system.
If doing it online, you may need to register as a contractor/excavator in their system (ITIC) with email, login credentials, etc.
Answer the call center’s questions / fill in form fields The agent (or online form) will ask for the information you prepared. They will use it to determine which facility operators (utility owners) need to be notified in your work area.
Receive ticket reference number & affected operators Once your request is accepted, the HOCC will generate a ticket number (reference) and list which utility / facility operators were notified.
Wait for facility operators to respond / perform locates After notification, the utility / facility operators (or their contract locators) will respond in one of several ways:
“No conflict / clear” (no underground facilities in the area)
“Area checked and marked”
“Marking will be delayed”
“Caller made aware of available records”
“Excavation area not marked / No action taken”
Check that all required operators have responded Before you begin excavation, you must verify that all operators identified on your ticket have responded (marked or provided an official response) by the legal start time.
Observe required waiting period (unless emergency) Under Hawaii law, you typically must wait at least five (5) working days (but no more than 28 calendar days) from the notification date before you begin excavation.
Short-notice or same-day requests are not guaranteed and don’t relieve legal responsibilities.
In valid emergencies, an emergency locate request may be made; operators are to respond as soon as possible.
Begin excavation carefully, respecting markings and safety Once the legal start time has arrived and locates are complete, you may proceed. You must exercise reasonable care when digging near subsurface installations, and in accordance with the law (e.g. stay outside tolerance zones).
Maintain proper records and positive response checks
Use the online portal / ticketing tools to check ticket status, positive responses, etc.
Retain the ticket number, positive responses, etc., for compliance purposes.
Why You Should Always Call 811 (Hawaii One Call) Before You Dig in Hawaiʻi
Introduction
Digging into the ground — whether for a fence post, landscaping, a building foundation, or any underground work — may seem simple. But beneath the surface lie buried utilities: electrical lines, gas or fuel lines, telecom cables, water pipes, sewer pipes, fiber, and more. Failing to locate and avoid these utilities can lead to service disruptions, expensive repairs, injuries, or worse. In Hawaiʻi, the legal and practical way to prevent such damage is to contact Hawaii One Call (HOCC / “811”) before any excavation.
Calling 811 is a free, centralized system that alerts utility owners to come mark their underground lines so you know what lies beneath before you dig.
Legal Requirements in Hawaiʻi
Under Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes, Chapter 269E (“One Call Center; Advance Warning to Excavators”), persons or contractors planning excavation must notify the One Call Center before digging.
The law requires at least five (5) working days’ advance notice, but it may be no more than 28 calendar days in advance.3
After notification, utility operators are required to respond — usually by marking the approximate location of subsurface installations (pipes, cables, etc.) in the proposed dig area.
If you fail to call or ignore properly marked lines, you may be liable for damages, face fines (up to $5,000 per day in certain cases), and possibly bear the full cost of repair.
In emergency excavations, the rules provide limited exception: you may dig first in certain urgent circumstances, but you must still notify 811 “as soon as practicable” and still bear liability for any damage.
Because of these legal rules, 811 isn’t optional — it’s an integral part of compliance and risk mitigation for any digging project.
The Risks of Not Calling First
1. Striking underground utilities Hitting a buried electric line, gas pipe, or telecom cable can cause injury, fire, utility outages, or even fatalities.
2. High repair costs and liability If you damage a utility, you may be responsible for full repair costs, fines, and damages to adjacent property or infrastructure.
3. Disruption of services Disrupting power, water, or communications can impact neighborhoods, businesses, or emergency services.
4. Project delays Repairing damage or securing permits post-accident can delay your work significantly.
5. Safety hazards Gas leaks, flooding, or exposed energized conductors are serious hazards to workers and the public.
6. Legal penalties Beyond repair costs, non-compliance may bring fines under Hawaiʻi law.
Given Hawaiʻi’s dense network of underground utilities — especially in developed areas — even seemingly modest digging can be dangerous.
How the 811 / Hawaii One Call Process Works (Step-by-Step)
Mark your dig area Before you call, you should delineate (spray in white or use flags/stakes) the proposed excavation limits so utility owners know where to look.
Submit your locate request You can call 811 (or toll-free 1-866-423-7287) or file online at DigSafelyHawaii.com. Be ready to provide:
Your name, contact, and company (if applicable)
Address, cross streets, or GPS location
Type of work, direction and distance from reference points
Marking instructions and area description
Receive an inquiry number / ticket The system issues an identification number (valid for up to 28 days) referencing your locate request.
Utility operators respond Operators with underground facilities in the impacted area are alerted and must field mark (spray paint or flag) the lines using standardized color codes (e.g. red for electric, yellow for gas, orange for communications)
Wait for clearance before digging You must wait until the legal start time (after all necessary markings) and confirm all required utilities have responded. Then begin excavation carefully, respecting tolerance zones and doing hand excavation near marked lines.
Remarking & re-notification if needed If markings fade or are obscured, you must stop work and request re-marking.
Document & keep records Keep your inquiry ticket, response records, and field markings for at least three years.
Why It’s Especially Critical in Hawaiʻi
High population density & tight corridors On Oʻahu, Maui, Hawaiʻi Island, and Kauaʻi, underground utility pathways are dense and often run close to buildings, roads, and infrastructure.
Multiple utility owners Different providers (electric, water, fiber, gas, telecom) share underground conduits; 811 helps coordinate across them so you don’t have to call each one individually.
Volcanic, rock and uneven terrain Depth and soil conditions vary — you can’t reliably estimate where utilities run without markings.
Environmental & regulatory sensitivity Damage can harm ecosystems, public rights-of-way, and trigger regulatory consequences.
Strong public awareness / coordination Hawaiʻi utilities like Hawaiian Electric promote the 811 requirement in their safety materials. Hawaiian Electric
Local permitting constraints Many counties or the City & County of Honolulu require proof of an 811 ticket (or clearances) before issuing street-use or excavation permits. City and County of Honolulu
Tips & Best Practices When Using 811 in Hawaiʻi
Don’t wait until the last moment — submit your request at least 5 working days early.
Mark as clearly as possible: indicate limits, direction, and any special instructions (e.g., “along fence line,” “behind shed”).
Always check the positive response or status of your ticket before starting work.
Use hand tools or soft digging methods when approaching marked lines.
If markings are missing or unclear, stop and request re-marking—don’t guess.
Document photos of markings, ticket, and site layout as backup in case of disputes.
Conclusion & Call to Action
Contacting Hawaii 811 / the One Call Center is not just a best practice — it’s a legal requirement for most digging in Hawaiʻi. It protects your project, workers, neighboring properties, and underground infrastructure. It helps avoid disasters, delays, and financial penalties.
Before you break ground — whether big or small — call 811 (or file online via DigSafelyHawaii.com) at least five business days ahead. It’s free, easy, and could save lives, money, and your timeline… Mahalo.
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