Species Covered

S.B. 2647 protects a wide range of imperiled species, including some that are found in Hawaii, and many that pass through the Islands or are sold in Hawaiian markets online or in store fronts.  Specifically, the bill addresses trade in the following species:  elephants, rhinoceros, tiger, great apes, Hawaiian monk seal, sharks, rays, sea turtles, walrus, narwhal, whales, hippopotamus, lion, pangolins, cheetah, jaguar, and leopard.

Exemptions

The ban does not apply to bona fide antiques, guns, or knives with historical documentation (where the wildlife product is less than 20 percent of the object’s volume), or products for educational or scientific purposes, or products acquired or distributed by a museum.  Pre-1975 musical instruments with small wildlife components (less than 20 percent) are also exempt.  The ban does not apply to endangered species products used in traditional cultural practices protected by the Hawaii State Constitution.