The Hawaii Dam and Reservoir Safety Act of 2007 mandates the Board of Land and Natural Resources to provide for the inspection and regulation of construction, enlargement, repair, alteration, maintenance, operation, and removal of all dams or reservoirs to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of the State by reducing the risk of failure of the dams or reservoirs.

Dams and reservoirs in Hawaii were historically developed by the agriculture industry. Today, dams and reservoirs continue to be used by the agriculture industry, in addition to providing storage for drinking water, flood control, recreation, and other purposes.

Only dams that meet a certain size (height and volume) criteria are regulated under the Program. Regulated dams are identified as having artificial barriers, together with appurtenant works, which are 25-feet or more in height or have an impounding capacity of 50-acre-feet (~17 million gallons) or more. Dams less than 6-feet in height, regardless of storage capacity, or that have a storage capacity not in excess of 15-acre-feet (5 million gallons) regardless of height, do not fall under State's jurisdiction, unless specified by the Program.