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How to Become a Notary in Hawaii

To become a notary in Hawaii, you must:

  1. Meet the eligibility requirements listed in the next section.
  2. Have a letter of character prepared by a resident of Hawaii who is not a relative or an employer and who can attest to your honesty, trustworthiness, financial integrity, and moral character.
  3. Create an account on the Hawaii Department of the Attorney General’s website and submit a notary application. You will be asked to upload the letter of character.
  4. Pay the $20 application fee. You will be notified by email when your notary application is approved.
  5. Schedule an exam by logging in to your account on the Hawaii Department of the Attorney General’s website and using the notary exam scheduler. After you pay the $10 exam fee, a letter will be emailed to you containing your examination date, time, and location. You must score an 80% or higher to pass the exam.
  6. Pay a fee of $100 for the issuance of your original commission by logging in to your account on the Hawaii Department of the Attorney General’s website .
  7. Obtain a rubber stamp notary seal, record book (notary journal), and a $1,000 surety bond.
  8. Email a copy of the $1,000 surety bond to the Department of the Attorney General for the circuit court judge to approve.
  9. After receiving the commission packet from the Department of the Attorney General, file a literal or photostatic copy of your notary public commission, an impression of your seal, a specimen of your official signature, and the original bond with the clerk of the circuit court in which you reside.

Who can become a notary public in Hawaii?

To become a notary public in Hawaii, you must meet the following requirements:

  1. Be at least eighteen years of age.
  2. Be a resident of Hawaii.
  3. Be a United States citizen or a national or permanent resident alien of the U.S. who diligently seeks citizenship upon becoming eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship.

This Hawaii notary guide will help you understand:

  1. Who can become a notary in Hawaii.
  2. How to become a notary in Hawaii.
  3. How to become a remote online notary in Hawaii.
  4. The basic duties of a notary in Hawaii.
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How do I renew my notary commission in Hawaii?

To renew your Hawaii notary commission, follow the same steps you took when you applied to become a notary for the first time; however, the exam is not required.

The Attorney General will send out a renewal notice approximately sixty days before your notary commission expiration date. You may begin the renewal process prior to the expiration of your notary public commission by clicking on “Start Renewal Application” on the Attorney General’s website.

Failure to renew your commission on time will cause your notary commission to be forfeited. A forfeited commission may be restored by the attorney general within one year after the date of forfeiture upon compliance with the commission renewal requirements provided by law and upon payment of all applicable fees. If you do not renew your commission within one year of the expiration date, you will have to re-apply as a new notary public and take the exam.

Who appoints notaries in Hawaii?

The Hawaii Department of the Attorney General receives notary applications for appointment and reappointment as a notary public, processes the applications for remote online notaries public, and administers the commissioning process.

Department of the Attorney General
Notary Public Office
425 Queen Street
Honolulu, HI 96813
(808) 586-1216
Email: ATG.notary@hawaii.gov

Can a non-resident of Hawaii apply for a commission as a notary public?

No. A person who is not a resident of the State of Hawaii does not qualify for a Hawaii notary public commission.

How long is a notary public's commission term in Hawaii?

The commission term of a Hawaii notary public is four years. Notaries cannot notarize documents after their notary commissions expire without first renewing their notary commissions.

Is notary training or an exam required to become a notary or to renew a notary commission in Hawaii?

Only new notary applicants in Hawaii must take and pass an exam as prescribed by the attorney general (HAR §5-11-32). Renewing notary applicants are exempt. To prepare for the exam, review the following: Notary Public Manual, HAR Sec. 5-11: Notaries Public and HRS 456 Hawaii Revised Statutes.

After your notary public application is approved by the attorney general,  log in to your notary account to schedule an exam using the notary exam scheduler. An exam notification letter will be emailed to you containing your exam date, time, and location. To pass the exam you must score an 80% or higher. You will be notified of the exam results within thirty days. The exam fee is $10, but there is a range of fees and penalties for those applicants who do not take the examination as scheduled.

If you fail to attain a passing score, you may re-take the exam without submitting a new application, provided that you request re-examination, pay the examination fee, and reschedule a re-examination within fourteen calendar days from the date of the notification of your failure to attain a passing score on the first examination. If you fail to request, pay for, and reschedule a re-examination within fourteen calendar days, you must submit a new application and pay the applicable application and examination fees. If you fail the examination twice, you must wait ninety days from the last examination date to reapply for a notary public commission.

How much does it cost to become a notary public in Hawaii?

The cost to become a notary in Hawaii includes:

  1. A $20 application fee to process your notary application.
  2. A $10 fee to take the exam.
  3. A $100 fee for the issuance of a new or renewal notary commission.
  4. The cost of a four-year, $1,000 surety bond.
  5. The fee charged by the circuit court clerk for filing the copy of your commission.
  6. A notary stamp. Click here to view our notary stamp prices.
  7. A record book (notary journal). Click here to view our notary journal prices.
  8. An errors and omissions insurance policy (optional) to protect yourself if you are sued for unintentional mistakes or if a false claim is filed against you.

Do I need a notary errors and omissions (E&O) insurance policy to become a notary in Hawaii?

A notary errors and omissions (E&O) insurance policy is not required to become a notary public in Hawaii or to renew your notary commission. However, the American Association of Notaries strongly recommends that every notary in Hawaii obtain a notary E&O insurance policy. A notary E&O policy covers unintentional notarial mistakes and pays for legal fees and damages based on the coverage you select as a notary public in Hawaii.

Do I need a notary bond to become a notary in Hawaii?

Yes. A Hawaii notary is required to maintain a four-year, $1,000 notary bond for the duration of the notary term. The bond must be approved by a judge of the circuit court. After approval, the bond must be deposited and kept on file in the office of the clerk of the circuit court of the circuit in which the notary public resides. 
 The notary bond protects the public from a notary’s errors. If a member of the public files a claim against a notary’s bond, the bonding company is very likely to sue the notary to recoup the funds it paid on the notary’s behalf. A notary bond does not protect notaries from mistakes they make. This is why notary errors and omissions insurance (commonly known as “E&O” or “E&O insurance”) is vital.

Do I need to order a notary stamp in Hawaii?

Yes. The Hawaii notary statute requires all notaries public to use a rubber stamp notary seal to authenticate all official acts. The official seal of every notary public must be circular, between one inch and two inches in diameter, and have a serrated or milled edge border.

The official notary seal must clearly show the following elements:

  • The name of the notary public
  • The notary’s commission number
  • The words “Notary Public”
  • The words “State of Hawaii”

Important:

  • You are not allowed to possess more than one rubber stamp notary seal at a time.
  • The notary seal must be capable of being copied together with the document on which it is stamped, to which it is attached, or with which it is logically associated.
  • You must surrender the rubber stamp notary seal to the attorney general within ninety days of resignation from, or revocation or abandonment of, a commission or upon the expiration of a commission without renewal.

The American Association of Notaries offers quality notary stamps and seals at savings of up to 40% compared to the same products elsewhere. Click here to order your Hawaii notary stamp, complete notary package, and other notary supplies.

What are the steps to replace a lost or stolen Hawaii notary seal?

A notary public must submit a written notification to the attorney general within ten days of discovering that their notary seal is lost, misplaced, or stolen. The notary public must also inform the appropriate law enforcement agency in the case of theft and deliver a copy of the law enforcement agency’s report to the attorney general. Failure to comply with this section can result in an administrative fine of $20.

How much can a Hawaii notary public charge for performing notarial acts?

Hawaii notary fees are set by state notary statute (HRS §456-17). The maximum allowable fees that a Hawaii notary public may charge for notarial acts are as follows:

  1. For noting the protest of mercantile paper: $5.
  2. For each notice and certified copy of protest: $5.
  3. For noting any other protest: $5.
  4. For every notice thereof and certified copy of protest: $5.
  5. For every deposition or official certificate or copy thereof: $5.
  6. For the administration of an oath, including the certificate of such oath (for original plus four copies): $5.
  7. For affixing the certificate of an oath to every duplicate original instrument beyond four: $2.50.
  8. For taking any acknowledgment (original plus one duplicate original): $5 for each party signing.
  9. For affixing the certificate of an acknowledgement to every duplicate original beyond the first copy: $2.50 for each person making the acknowledgment.
  10. For any of the foregoing notarial acts performed for a remotely located individual other than affixing a notary public's certificate to a duplicate original: $25.
  11. For administration of an oath of loyalty: No charge.

Is a notary journal required in Hawaii?

Notary Journal requirements for each type of notarization in Hawaii:

  • Traditional Notarizations – Hawaii notaries performing traditional notarizations are required to record all notarial acts in a tangible notary journal. A tangible journal should be a permanent, bound register with numbered pages in accordance with the requirements of section 5-11-9 of the Hawaii Administrative Rules.
  • Remote Online Notarizations – In addition to the tangible journal required of all notaries public, a remote online notary public shall retain an electronic journal and any audiovisual recording in a computer or other electronic storage device that protects the journal and recording against unauthorized access by password or cryptographic process.

A notary journal (also known as a record book, log book, or register book) is your first line of defense in proving your innocence if a notarial act you performed is questioned or if you are requested to testify in a court of law about a notarial act you performed in the past. A properly recorded notarial act creates a paper trail that will help investigators locate and prosecute signers who have committed forgery or fraud. Properly recorded notarial acts provide evidence that you followed your state laws and notary’s best practices. 


The American Association of Notaries offers notary journals in tangible and electronic formats.

Click here to purchase a tangible notary journal.

Click here to become a member and access our electronic notary journal.

What information must Hawaii notaries record in their notary journals?

For traditional notarizations and remote online notarizations, Hawaii requires notaries to chronicle the following information in their notary journals:

  1. The type, date, and time of day of the notarial act.
  2. The title or type and date of the document or proceeding.
  3. The full printed name and address of each person whose signature is notarized and of each witness and, if the journal is maintained in a tangible medium, the signature of that person.
  4. If the identity of the person is based on personal knowledge, a statement to that effect.
  5. If the identity of the person is based on satisfactory evidence, a brief description of the method of identification and the identification credential presented, if any, including the identification number and date of expiration.
  6. The fee, if any, charged by the notary public.

What steps should I take if my Hawaii notary journal is lost or stolen?

A notary public must submit a written notification to the attorney general, within ten days of discovering that their notary journal is lost, misplaced, or stolen. The notary public must also inform the appropriate law enforcement agency in the case of theft and deliver a copy of the law enforcement agency’s report to the attorney general. Failure to comply with this section can result in an administrative fine of $20.

How long should I retain my Hawaii notary journal?

A Hawaii notary public must retain their notary journal for ten years after the performance of the last notarial act chronicled in the notary journal.

Where can I perform notarial acts in Hawaii?

You may perform notarial acts while you are physically located anywhere within the geographic borders of the state of Hawaii.

What notarial acts can a Hawaii notary public perform?

A Hawaii notary public is authorized to perform the following notarial acts whether with respect to a tangible or electronic record:

  1. Taking an acknowledgment.
  2. Administering an oath, affirmation, or affidavit.
  3. Taking a deposition.
  4. Witnessing the signing of documents.
  5. Noting a protest.

What kind of notarizations are allowed in Hawaii?

Hawaii law allows the following two types of notarizations:

Traditional notarizations – This type of notarization requires the signer and the notary to meet physically in the same room within face-to-face proximity of one another. Traditional notarization involves an individual signing a tangible document with an inked pen and a notary public signing and affixing an inked notary stamp impression to the tangible notarial certificate.

Remote online notarizations - The signer appears remotely before a remote online notary via communication technology. The notarization is performed on an electronic document using electronic signatures, an electronic notary seal, and an electronic notarial certificate.

What are the steps to become a remote online notary in Hawaii?

To become a remote online notary in Hawaii, you must:

  1. Hold a current notary commission.
  2. Contract with at least one remote online notary vendor who is fully compliant with chapter 456, HRS.
  3. Obtain a digital certificate from a qualified certificate authority or a trusted service provider.
  4. Complete and file an online application for remote online notary public on the attorney general’s website. A completed application must include the $20 application fee.
  5. Schedule a remote online notary exam and pay the $10 fee by logging in to your account on the attorney general’s website.
  6. Pay a $100 fee for your remote online notary commission.
  7. Submit a tangible copy of your electronic seal and electronic signature to the attorney general.
  8. File a photocopy of your remote online notary public commission certificate with the clerk of the circuit court of the circuit in which you reside within thirty days of the receipt of your commission.

For more information on how to become a remote online notary in Hawaii, visit the Department of the Attorney General’s website.

How do I update my address on my Hawaii notary commission?

You must notify the attorney general within thirty days of any change to your employer, residence, or business addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses, or occupation. If there is a change, log in to your account on the attorney general’s website and complete the “edit my account request.”

If you fail to provide timely notification to the attorney general of any change, you will be subject to a $25 administrative fine. If your failure to provide timely notification results in renewal forms being mailed to an incorrect address, you will be subject to a $50 administrative fine.

How do I change my name on my notary commission in Hawaii?

If your name changes, you must notify the attorney general in writing within thirty days of the name change. To change your name, log in to your account on the Attorney General’s website and complete the “edit my account request.” You will be asked to upload supporting documentation (e.g., marriage license or divorce decree) showing your name change. You may continue to notarize under your old name until your name change is processed. It may take up to one month to process. Failure to notify the attorney general promptly of any change can result in a $25 administrative fine.

Revised:

April 2024

Legal disclaimer: The information provided on this page is for general informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as legal advice. We do not claim to be attorneys and we do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information provided. You should always seek the advice of a licensed attorney for any legal matters. It is your responsibility to know the appropriate notary laws governing your state. In no event shall the American Association of Notaries, its employees, or contractors be liable to you for any claims, penalties, losses, damages, or expenses, howsoever arising, including, and without limitation, direct or indirect loss, or consequential loss, out of or in connection with the use of the information contained on any of the American Association of Notaries website pages. Notaries are advised to seek the advice of their state’s notary authorities or attorneys if they have legal questions. 

Notary bonds and errors and omissions insurance policies provided by this insurance agency, American Association of Notaries, Inc., are underwritten by Western Surety Company, Universal Surety of America, or Surety Bonding Company of America, which are subsidiaries of CNA Surety.