FBI Honolulu Enforces Drone Restrictions Over Kailua-Kona for 2026 Ironman World Championship
Why It MattersMajor sporting events increasingly trigger coordinated federal drone-enforcement operations, signaling tighter airspace security protocols around large public gatherings nationwide.
FBI Honolulu and its law enforcement partners are enforcing Federal Aviation Administration temporary flight restrictions over Kailua-Kona during the 2026 Ironman World Championship, scheduled for October 10. The triathlon returns to a single race day for both men and women this year, starting in Kailua Bay and finishing on Ali'i Drive along the Kona Coast in West Hawaiʻi.
FBI Honolulu Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Ryan Noonan said the FBI is enforcing no-drone zones around Kailua-Kona in support of the event, with agents and law enforcement partners using specialized detection tools under Department of Justice authority to identify and seize drones violating the restrictions. Operators who violate the restrictions face civil fines of up to $75,000, criminal fines of up to $100,000, up to one year in prison, and seizure of their drone, and are advised to check airspace restrictions via the B4UFLY app or the FAA website before flying.
FBI Honolulu partnered with the Honolulu Police Department and the Hawaiʻi Department of Law Enforcement to produce a video outlining key guidelines for drone operators, and the public is asked to report suspicious or unsafe drone activity by calling 9-1-1.
