Who has the authority to appoint and commission notaries public in Hawaii?
Based on: HRS 456-1 (Appointment; renewal)
Hawaii Notary Public Exam · Commission
Hawaii Notary Exam Practice Questions: Commission and Qualifications (2026)
To become a Hawaii notary public you apply to the Department of the Attorney General, who under HRS 456-1 may, in the attorney general's discretion, appoint and commission notaries for the State. You must be a resident of the State at the time of appointment under HRS 456-2, file a complete application that the attorney general acts on within six months under HAR 5-11-22, and pass the written examination at the eighty per cent minimum set by HAR 5-11-32. The commission runs for a four-year term.
Practice
Free practice questions
How does the attorney general decide how many notaries public to commission?
Based on: HRS 456-1 (Appointment; renewal)
What is the term of office of a Hawaii notary public?
Based on: HRS 456-1 (Appointment; renewal)
Under section 456-1, on what basis may the attorney general remove a notary public before the term ends?
Based on: HRS 456-1 (Appointment; renewal)
When a change occurs in a notary's office, occupation, residence, or employment, what must the notary do?
Based on: HRS 456-1 (Appointment; renewal)
What may happen to a commission if a change in the notary's occupation or residence makes holding it no longer necessary for the public good and convenience?
Based on: HRS 456-1 (Appointment; renewal)
Who is responsible for renewing a notary public's commission on a timely basis?
Based on: HRS 456-1 (Appointment; renewal)
Under section 456-1, when may a failure to renew a commission cause it to be forfeited?
Based on: HRS 456-1 (Appointment; renewal)
Within what period after forfeiture may the attorney general restore a forfeited commission under section 456-1?
Based on: HRS 456-1 (Appointment; renewal)
What must a notary do to have a forfeited commission restored within the allowed period?
Based on: HRS 456-1 (Appointment; renewal)
Who appoints notaries and who may apply
Hawaii does not elect its notaries or hand the power to a court clerk. Under HRS 456-1 the attorney general may, in the attorney general's discretion, appoint and commission notaries public for the State, and HRS 456-1.5 lists issuing notary commissions among the attorney general's enumerated powers. The threshold qualification is residency: HRS 456-2 provides that every person appointed must, at the time of appointment, be a resident of the State. No one may act as, advertise as, or perform the acts of a notary without a current commission from the attorney general, a rule stated plainly in HAR 5-11-2, and any notarial act performed after a commission is terminated, revoked or suspended is invalid under HAR 5-11-12. The application itself, governed by HAR 5-11-21, asks for the applicant's current residence, business, mailing and email addresses, and it must include a character recommendation from a State resident who is not a relative or employer and who can attest to the applicant's honesty, trustworthiness and moral character. The attorney general may prescribe these rules under HRS 456-8, subject to chapter 91. Because the discretion sits with the attorney general, meeting the bare requirements does not guarantee a commission; the application has to satisfy the office that the applicant has the character and competence the rules in HAR Chapter 5-11 demand for the protection of the general public.
- Appointed by the attorney general, in the attorney general's discretion (HRS 456-1).
- Must be a resident of the State at the time of appointment (HRS 456-2).
- Application needs a character recommendation from a non-relative, non-employer State resident (HAR 5-11-21).
The examination, the term and renewal
Passing the written examination is the gate. The examination tests reasonable knowledge of the general principles and practices of notarial acts and the laws and rules pertaining to notaries public under HAR 5-11-33, and the minimum passing score is eighty per cent under HAR 5-11-32. After a complete application is filed, the attorney general must take action within six months under HAR 5-11-22. The commission then runs for a four-year term, and a notarial act performed after the term ends is invalid under HAR 5-11-12. Renewal is its own process: a completed renewal application received within sixty calendar days before expiration is considered timely filed under HAR 5-11-23, which also lists events such as the dishonoring of a renewal-fee check on first deposit among the things that can cause an automatic forfeiture. A notary who wishes to step down resigns under HAR 5-11-16 by ceasing to conduct all notarial services and surrendering the commission certificate and rubber stamp seal while telling the attorney general where the journal is kept. The practical lesson the exam tests is that a Hawaii commission is a continuing relationship with the attorney general, not a one-time licence: the residency, the eighty per cent bar, the six-month action window and the timely sixty-day renewal all have to be tracked so the commission never lapses.
| Requirement | Hawaii rule (statute or rule) |
|---|---|
| Who appoints | The attorney general, in discretion (HRS 456-1) |
| Residency | Resident of the State at appointment (HRS 456-2) |
| Passing score | Eighty per cent (HAR 5-11-32) |
| Action on application | Within six months of a complete filing (HAR 5-11-22) |
| Timely renewal | Within sixty days before expiration (HAR 5-11-23) |
| Commission term | Four years |
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Who appoints notaries public in Hawaii?
In Hawaii the attorney general appoints and commissions notaries public, in the attorney general's discretion, under HRS 456-1. The same office issues the commission under HRS 456-1.5, so applications and the written examination are all handled by the Department of the Attorney General, not by a governor, court clerk or county.
What score do I need to pass the Hawaii notary exam?
Hawaii requires a minimum passing score of eighty per cent on the written examination under Hawaii Administrative Rules section 5-11-32. The exam tests reasonable knowledge of the general principles and practices of notarial acts and the laws and rules pertaining to notaries public under HAR 5-11-33.
Do I have to be a Hawaii resident to become a notary?
Yes. Under HRS 456-2, every person appointed a notary public in Hawaii must, at the time of appointment, be a resident of the State. Failing to maintain a business or residence address in the State while practising is itself a ground for discipline under HAR 5-11-39.
How long does a Hawaii notary commission last and how do I renew it?
A Hawaii notary commission runs for a four-year term. To keep it, you file a completed renewal application, which is considered timely if received within sixty calendar days before expiration under HAR 5-11-23; the attorney general then acts on a complete application within six months under HAR 5-11-22.