How to become a notary public in Hawaii

Hawaii notary public licenses

Hawaii issues 2 notary public credentials. Each has its own section below; the table shows what each one covers and its headline requirements.

Applies to every license level

These rules are the same for every Hawaii notary public license on this page, so they are shown once here. Each license's own section lists only what differs.

Requirements

Minimum age

18 years old¹

Background check

The application may ask for the date and place of any felony conviction, or of a misdemeanor related to notary duties or involving fraud, false statements, theft, bribery, perjury, forgery, counterfeiting or extortion.²

Fees

Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.

How to apply

Apply online

notary.ehawaii.gov⁴

Renewal

How often

Every 4 years¹²

Renew online

notary.ehawaii.gov⁴

From another state

Who needs a Notary Public Commission

Hawaii notaries administer oaths, take acknowledgments, attest to signers' identity, note protests and take depositions, statewide. A notary commissioned for work with an employer must still serve the general public; government notaries (fees and bond waived) are limited to government business.¹

Other rules on who may do this work:

• A notary who charges for official services must hold a State gross income tax license (as the Notary Manual calls it); the fees are subject to the State general excise tax.¹

Requirements for a Notary Public Commission

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

Exam

Hawaii notary public examination (written, closed-book)¹
Given by: Attorney General Notary Public Office (exam scheduled through the applicant's notary account)³
Passing score: 80 percent²
When you can take it: After the AG approves the application; given on Oahu at least monthly and on the neighbor islands periodically, in the applicant's county.⁵
Chapter 456 HRS, HRS §§ 502-41 to 502-74, HAR ch. 5-11, and general notarial principles and practice²
Retakes: One retake without a new application if requested, paid and rescheduled within 14 calendar days of the failure notice; after two failures, wait 90 days to reapply.²
Time limit: A no-show without advance notice requires a new application with new letters plus a $25 no-show fee.²

Residency or citizenship

US citizen, or US national or permanent resident alien who diligently seeks citizenship when eligible; and a Hawaii resident.¹

Surety bond

$1,000¹ (All except government notaries)

Also required

One letter of justification (from an officer or partner of your employer, or from yourself if self-employed) and one character letter from a Hawaii resident who is not an employer or relative.⁵

Also required

Rubber-stamp seal: circular, not over 2 inches, serrated or milled edge, showing name, commission number, "notary public" and "State of Hawaii".¹

Also required

File a copy of the commission, seal impression and specimen signature with the clerk of the circuit court where you live.¹

Also required

Report any change in office, occupation, residence or employment to the AG in writing within 30 days.¹

How much a Notary Public Commission costs

Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.

Fee waivers and reductions:

• Government notaries pay no application or commission fee and furnish no bond (unless their department requires one), and may not charge for notarial services.³

What a notary public may charge the public:

• Maximum fees a Hawaii notary may charge (HRS § 456-17): $5.00 for taking an acknowledgment (original plus one duplicate, per signer) or administering an oath with certificate; $2.50 per extra duplicate certificate; $25.00 for an act performed for a remotely located individual.¹

How to apply

1. Create an eHawaii.gov account and apply online at notary.ehawaii.gov, paying the $20 application fee and uploading the justification and character letters.¹ notary.ehawaii.gov⁴
2. After the approval email, log in and book the exam with the Notary Exam Scheduler; pay the $10 exam fee.³
3. Pass the closed-book exam (80%).¹
4. Pay the $100 commission fee, have your seal made, and buy a $1,000 surety bond approved by a circuit court judge.³
5. File a copy of the commission, your seal impression and specimen signature with the circuit court clerk where you live.³

Processing time

The AG acts on a complete application within six months; an application left incomplete for 90 days may be treated as abandoned.⁵

Renewal and continuing education

When it expires

Four years from the commission date. A renewal application received within 60 calendar days before expiry is timely; renewal needs the application, all fees and any other legal requirement.²

Renewal fee

$100²

Late renewal

Renewal fee: $20²
Reinstatement fee: $10² (forfeited commission, within one year of expiry)
Reinstatement fee: $80² (forfeited commission, within one year of expiry)
Other fee: $50²

If it expires

Knowingly failing to renew by the expiry date forfeits the commission; after more than one year from expiry you must reapply as a new applicant.²

Remote Online Notary Public Commission

Lets a commissioned Hawaii notary located in Hawaii notarise for a remotely located individual by communication technology, with identity proofing and an audiovisual recording kept at least 10 years.¹

Requirements

Experience

Hold an active Hawaii notary public commission²
License you must hold first: Hi-notary-public-commission (active)²

Exam

Remote online notary public examination²
Passing score: 80 percent (applies through § 5-11-32)²

Residency or citizenship

Same as the notary commission: US citizen, national or permanent resident alien seeking citizenship, and a Hawaii resident; the RON must be located in Hawaii when acting.¹

Surety bond

$1,000¹

Also required

Application must describe the communication technology, vendors and data-storage methods, certify a digital certificate from a qualified certificate authority or trusted service provider, and state the technology complies with HRS ch. 456 and HAR ch. 5-11.²

Also required

Within 30 days of receiving the RON commission, file a copy with the circuit court clerk; also give the AG a tangible copy of the electronic seal and electronic signature.²

Fees

Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.

How to apply

1. While holding an active notary commission, file the RON application with the AG (with technology, vendor and storage descriptions and digital-certificate statement) and pay the $20 fee.⁵ notary.ehawaii.gov⁴
2. Pay the exam fee and pass the RON exam.²
3. Pay the $100 RON commission fee; within 30 days file the RON commission with the circuit court clerk and send the AG a copy of your electronic seal and signature.²

Processing time

The AG acts on a complete RON application within six months.²

Renewal

When it expires

Expires with the underlying notary commission; renewal application timely if received within 60 calendar days before expiry.²

Renewal fee

$120²

Late renewal

Reinstatement fee: $90²

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

City and county rules

Notary Public CommissionNo local notary license. After commissioning, file a copy of the commission, a seal impression and a specimen signature with the clerk of the circuit court where you live; the circuit court clerk charges a filing fee.¹

Check a license or report a problem

Before you hire a notary public in Hawaii, you can confirm the license is current on the board's own search. Every board we cover in Hawaii is on the Hawaii license lookup page.

Look up a license

notary.ehawaii.gov⁵

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• Haw. Rev. Stat. ch. 456 (Notaries Public)
• Haw. Admin. Rules ch. 5-11 (Notaries Public), amended and compiled February 27, 2022
• Haw. Admin. Rules § 5-11-46
• Act 54, Session Laws of Hawaii 2020 (effective January 1, 2021)
• Haw. Admin. Rules §§ 5-11-61 to 5-11-70 (remote online notary public)

Common questions

Notary public licenses in other states

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