How to Become a Notary in Hawaii

Quick Facts

Minimum Age

Residency Required

Yes

Education Required

Yes

Exam Required

Yes

No

Background Check Required

Bond Requirement

Yes

Commission Term

4 Years

Journal Required

Yes

Stamp Requirement

Yes

Last updated

August , 2025

Steps to Become a Notary in Hawaii

Education Final:

Yes, must complete an approved training course.

Exam:

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.

Exam Final:

Yes, an exam is required

Background Check Final:

No background check is required

Bond:

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.

Bond Final:

Yes, a $1,000 bond is required

Applictation:

Please see this link for further details: https://portal.ehawaii.gov/home/online-services/online-notary-application/

Applictation Final:

Yes, application and a fee required

Order Supplies Final:

Stamp Required

File Oath And Commission Final:

No Oath is required

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Hawaii Secretary of State

Notary Public Section

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.

Always Verify the Information with your State’s Official Notary Licensing Agency.