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.
