Pool removal in Hawaii
Pool removal in Hawaii starts with a local permit and an 811 call before digging; then a crew paid Hawaii rates fills the pool in or takes it out.
- Concrete pool, filled in · 1–3 days
- $3,300–$13,100
- Concrete pool, taken out · 3–7 days
- $5,200–$20,900
US ranges from Angi, set for Hawaii construction pay (BLS, May 2025); days from HomeAdvisor.
Pool removal cost calculator
What kind of pool is it?
Not sure? Touch the wall: soft and pressable is vinyl, slick and glossy is fiberglass, rough is concrete.
Last question
Fill it in, or take it all out?
Pool removal costs more in Hawaii because local crews are paid more than the national average. One call reaches a pool demolition company that works in your area. They'll ask about your pool and yard, book a visit and give you a written price. Call today. Hawaii requires at least five working days' notice before digging starts, and an early call gets that notice in on time.
What it costs for each kind of pool
Your price depends on what your pool is made of. These ranges are set for Hawaii, where construction laborers earn $34.39 an hour on average compared with $25.02 nationally, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
| Type of pool | Typical Hawaii cost |
|---|---|
| Above-ground pool, dismantled and hauled off | $625 to $3,275 |
| Vinyl liner pool, removed | $3,900 to $13,100 |
| Fiberglass pool, removed | $6,500 to $19,600 |
| Concrete or gunite pool, filled in | $3,300 to $13,100 |
| Concrete or gunite pool, fully removed | $5,200 to $20,900 |
The starting point for these figures is Angi's national ranges. A fill-in fills the pool with earth instead of taking it all out. A full removal takes out the pool rather than filling it in.
No price is final until a crew has looked at your pool, checked how they can get into your yard, and seen how much fill the job needs.
Permits you need in Honolulu
To demolish any structure in Honolulu, you need a building permit, and swimming pools appear by name on the city's list.
Honolulu also asks for a separate grading permit if the job moves more than 50 cubic yards of soil or fill, piles earth more than 3 feet high, or sends runoff toward neighbors. A small fill-in may stay under those limits, while a big pool can go over.
Giving notice before any digging
Under Hawaii law, anyone who digs must notify the one call center at least 5 working days, but no more than 28 calendar days, before the job. When you call, ask the crew who will submit the dig notice.
Hiring a licensed contractor
In Hawaii, jobs costing more than $1,500 in labor and materials, or any work requiring a permit for building, electrical, or plumbing, must be handled by a licensed contractor. Because pool demolition in Honolulu needs a building permit, the work calls for a licensed contractor unless you take it on yourself as an owner-builder.
If you do the work under an owner-builder permit, you cannot sell, lease, or offer to sell or lease the structure for one year after completion. Keep that in mind if you might be moving.
Draining the pool water
Before pool water is disposed of, Honolulu requires it to be dechlorinated until chlorine reads 0.01 parts per million or lower. Dechlorinated just means the chlorine is gone. Letting it dissipate naturally takes up to about 2 weeks, or you can add a chemical neutralizer.
No permit is needed to water a landscaped area on your own property. Sending water to a storm drain requires a $200 city discharge permit, and you must notify the city at least 72 hours in advance.
Get a written price for your pool
Ranges show what's typical, but only a visit gives your real number. Call now, tell the crew about your pool and yard, and they'll book a visit and put a price in writing so you can plan with real numbers.
Get a crew to look at your yard
The ranges tell you what is usual. Once a crew sees your pool, the access, and the fill, they will give you a real written quote.