Per the Fire Code of the City and County of Honolulu:

“10.13.10.4 Clearance of Brush or Vegetative Growth from Structures.

Persons owning, leasing, controlling, operating, or maintaining buildings or structures in, upon, or adjoining hazardous fire areas and persons owning, leasing, or controlling land adjacent to such buildings or structures shall at all times:

1. Maintain an effective firebreak by removing and clearing flammable vegetation and combustible growth from areas within 30 feet of such buildings or structures.
   • EXCEPTION:  Single specimens of trees, ornamental shrubbery, or similar plants used as ground covers, provided they do not form a means of rapidly transmitting fire from the native growth to any structure.

2. Maintain additional fire protection or firebreak by removing brush, flammable vegetation, and combustible growth located from 30 to 100 feet from such buildings or structures when required by the AHJ because of hazardous conditions causing a firebreak of only 30 feet, which is insufficient to provide reasonable fire safety.
   • EXCEPTION:  Grass and other vegetation located more than 30 feet from buildings or structures and less than 18 inches in height above the ground need not be removed where necessary to stabilize the soil and prevent erosion.

3. Remove portions of trees which extend within ten feet of a chimney’s outlet.
4. Maintain trees adjacent to or overhanging a building free of deadwood.
5. Maintain the structure’s roof free of leaves, needles, or other dead vegetative growth.”