For Notaries · Hawaii
How to Become a Notary in Hawaii
To become a notary in Hawaii, you must be at least 18, a Hawaii resident, and a U.S. citizen or eligible resident alien. You submit justification and character letters, pass a closed-book exam, post a $1,000 surety bond, pay the $20 application fee (plus a $100 commission fee), and serve a four-year term.
Last updated: July 16, 2026 · By Andrew Ray Yon, MBA, ChFC — CEO & Founder, USA Notary
Hawaii commissions notaries through the Department of the Attorney General's Notary Public Office — not a Secretary of State — which makes it one of the more rigorous states. You apply online, submit a letter of justification and a letter of character, pay a $20 application fee, and must pass a written, closed-book exam scoring 80% or higher. Once approved, you post a $1,000 four-year surety bond, pay the $100 commission-issuance fee, and file your bond, a seal imprint and your signature with the clerk of the circuit court where you reside. Commissions run four years. Hawaii also lets active notaries register to perform remote online notarization.
Hawaii Notary Requirements at a Glance
| Eligibility | At least 18 years old; a Hawaii resident; a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident alien who diligently seeks citizenship when eligible; able to read, write, speak and understand English; and not a habitual user of narcotics or similar drugs. |
|---|---|
| Surety bond | A $1,000 surety bond covering the four-year commission term is required. The bond must be approved by a judge of the circuit court and filed with the clerk of the circuit court along with a copy of your commission, a seal imprint and a signature specimen. |
| State filing fee | $20.00 non-refundable application fee (required by HAR § 5-11-46), plus a $100.00 commission-issuance fee and a $10.00 examination fee, all paid to the Department of the Attorney General. |
| Commission term | 4 years |
| Notary education | Not required. Hawaii mandates no pre-appointment training course or set number of hours, though the Attorney General publishes a Notary Public Manual to study, and applicants must pass the state exam. |
| Exam | Required. A written, closed-book examination covering Hawaii notary statutes and practice; you must score 80% or higher to pass. It is offered on Oahu at least once a month and periodically on the neighbor islands. The exam fee is $10. |
Hawaii requires a $1,000 four-year surety bond, a $20 application fee (plus a $100 commission fee), and a passing written exam, with a commission term of four years. — National Notary Association — How to Become a Notary in Hawaii
How to Become a Notary in Hawaii: Step by Step
- 1
Confirm you are eligible
Verify you are at least 18, a Hawaii resident, a U.S. citizen or eligible resident alien, and able to read, write and speak English.
- 2
Apply online with your letters and fee
Complete the online application on the Attorney General's notary portal, submit a letter of justification and a letter of character, and pay the $20 non-refundable application fee.
- 3
Pass the written exam
Once your application is approved, schedule and pass the written, closed-book Hawaii notary exam with a score of 80% or higher; the exam fee is $10.
- 4
Post your surety bond and pay the commission fee
Obtain a $1,000 four-year surety bond approved by a circuit court judge and pay the $100 commission-issuance fee to receive your commission.
- 5
File with the clerk of the circuit court
File your bond, a copy of your commission, a seal imprint and a signature specimen with the clerk of the circuit court where you reside.
- 6
Get your seal and journal and start notarizing
Purchase the required circular rubber Notary seal and a permanently bound journal, then begin performing notarial acts; active notaries may also register for remote online notarization.
How to Become an Online (Remote) Notary in Hawaii
Remote online notarization is operative in Hawaii. Only a notary with an active commission may apply for a remote online notary commission by filing a separate application with the Attorney General. The RON application fee is $20 and the new RON commission fee is $100 (roughly $120 total), on top of the standard commission.
Online / remote notary application fee: $120 ($20 RON application fee + $100 new RON commission fee)
Authorized by Act 54, Session Laws of Hawaii 2020, effective January 1, 2021.
The commission, the RON registration and the platform account are three separate things — which of them you can do entirely online sorts them out.
Walk through the Hawaii remote online notarization process →
Need a document notarized in Hawaii instead? Notarize online with a Hawaii commissioned notary.
Traditional Notary vs. Remote Online Notary in Hawaii
Hawaii allows remote online notarization, so once you hold a Hawaii commission you can register to notarize for signers who appear over live video — and take on assigned online signings.
| Traditional (in-person) notary | Remote online notary (RON) | |
|---|---|---|
| How the signer appears | In person, in the same room | Over a live, recorded audio-video call |
| Available in Hawaii? | Yes | Available now — register once commissioned |
| What you need | Seal and journal | An approved RON platform, identity-proofing, and a digital certificate |
| Where the work comes from | Local, walk-in and mobile appointments | Nationwide — e.g. assigned online signings through USA Notary |
What Does It Cost to Become a Notary in Hawaii?
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| State application fee | $20 |
| Written exam fee | $10 |
| Commission-issuance fee | $100 |
| $1,000 four-year surety bond | ~$40 (varies by supplier) |
| Notary seal & journal | $60 - $85 |
| Optional RON registration | $120 ($20 application + $100 commission) |
See costs and fees on USA Notary for platform-side details.
What a Hawaii Notary Can Charge
The costs above are what you pay to get commissioned — this is the other side of the ledger. Hawaii caps what a notary may charge per notarial act, and here is exactly where those ceilings sit.
| Maximum in-person fee (per notarial act) | $5 |
|---|---|
| Maximum remote online notarization (RON) fee | $25 |
A statutory maximum is a ceiling, not a price list, and it covers the notarial act only — travel, printing and after-hours convenience are quoted as separate line items. See how Hawaii compares with every other state in the full 50-state breakdown of what a notary costs.
Verified July 2026 against the National Notary Association "Notary Fees by State" table and primary state statutes/Secretary of State rules. Several states (WA, VA, NC) raised caps in 2023–2024. Fees are per notarial act/signature; a notary may charge less, never more. Confirm your state before relying on a figure.
Renewing Your Notary Commission in Hawaii
Commission term in Hawaii
4 years
No state renews a commission automatically, and notarizing on a lapsed one is treated as acting without authority — start the renewal before the date above arrives.
For timelines, typical costs, and what to do if you've already let a commission lapse, see our step-by-step notary commission renewal guide.
Turn Your Hawaii Commission Into Income
USA Notary connects commissioned notaries with assigned, paid remote signings — so your commission actually earns. How Hawaii notaries earn · membership cost · platform requirements · other states
Join USA Notary as a notaryFrequently Asked Questions
How long does a Hawaii notary commission last?
A Hawaii notary public commission lasts four years. The state mails a renewal application about two months before expiration, and the renewal process mirrors the initial application, including the exam.
How much does it cost to become a notary in Hawaii?
Expect roughly $236 to $261 total. That includes a $20 application fee, $10 exam fee, $100 commission fee, a $1,000 four-year surety bond (about $40), plus seal, journal and circuit court filing costs.
Is a class or exam required to become a Hawaii notary?
No training course is required, but a written, closed-book exam is mandatory. You must score 80% or higher on statutory and practical notary questions. The Attorney General's Notary Manual is the main study resource.
Who appoints and administers notaries in Hawaii?
Notaries public are commissioned by the Hawaii Attorney General through the Notary Public Office of the Department of the Attorney General in Honolulu — not a Secretary of State.
Can Hawaii notaries perform remote online notarization?
Yes. Hawaii authorized remote online notarization effective January 1, 2021. A notary with an active commission may file a separate RON application with the Attorney General, paying a $20 application fee and a $100 RON commission fee.
How much can a notary charge in Hawaii?
Hawaii's maximum fee for a standard in-person notarial act is $5, per act or signature.
How much can a Hawaii notary charge for online notarization?
Hawaii's listed maximum fee for a remote online notarization is $25, against $5 in person.
When does a Hawaii notary commission expire?
The Hawaii commission term is: 4 years. No state renews a commission automatically — once yours lapses you cannot perform notarial acts until the renewal or reappointment is complete, so calendar the expiration date and start the paperwork early.
Where to go from here
The rest of the questions are the same in every state, so they live in one place each:
- How long it takes to become a notary — application, processing queue, and the waiting you can't control.
- What it costs to become a notary — the same line items as the Hawaii cost table, priced across every state.
- Notary bond vs. E&O insurance — which one is a state requirement and which is your own call.
- What a loan signing agent does and earns — the highest-earning specialization once your commission arrives.
Becoming a Notary in Other States
Requirements differ by state — here are nearby Pacific guides and other popular states. See the full 50-state directory.
About the author
Andrew Ray Yon, MBA, ChFC
CEO & Founder, USA Notary Services LLC
Andrew Ray Yon is the founder and CEO of USA Notary Services LLC and the architect of the SharpNote remote online notarization platform. A Certified Notary Signing Agent since 2005, he has handled mortgage and title loan signings for two decades — personally completing more than 10,000 notarizations — and holds an MBA and the ChFC (Chartered Financial Consultant) designation. Based in Virginia’s Greater Richmond region, he leads the company’s strategy, compliance, and platform development.
Connect on LinkedInOfficial sources
- Hawaii Department of the Attorney General — Notaries Public
- Hawaii AG Notary Fee Schedule (effective Jan 1, 2020)
- National Notary Association — How to Become a Notary in Hawaii
This guide summarizes public requirements from Hawaii's notary authority and is for general information, not legal advice. Requirements and fees can change — always confirm current details with your state before applying.