Hawaii requires a journal for every notarial act — each entry mandatory, no exceptions, even for multiple copies of the same document. Hawaii notaries are overseen by the Department of the Attorney General — not the Secretary of State. Circuit court filing required within 90 days. No bond. NotaryAct is state-configured for Hawaii — all six required fields enabled.
| ⚖️ Hawaii Notary Journal Law — Quick Reference | |
|---|---|
| Governing Law | HRS Chapter 456 (§ 456-15 journal) · HAR Chapter 5-11 · Act 54, 2020 Sess. Laws (RON) |
| Journal Required? | Yes — every notarial act — no exceptions ✓ |
| Oversight Authority | Hawaii Department of the Attorney General (AG) — not SOS ✓ |
| Formats | Tangible (one at a time) OR electronic (one per document type) · Tamper-evident electronic format |
| Signer Signature in Journal | Required in tangible journal · Not required in electronic journal ✓ |
| Retention | 10 years after last notarial act |
| Lost / Stolen | Promptly notify the AG |
| On Death / Incompetency | Personal representative must transmit journal to AG or approved repository ✓ |
| Thumbprint / Fingerprint | Not required · Not prohibited · Optional in NotaryAct HI configuration |
| Circuit Court Filing | Required within 90 days of commission — commission + seal impression ✓ |
| RON | Authorized · Notify AG before first RON · A/V recording required · Approved platform · $20 fee |
| Surety Bond | Not required |
| Commission Term | 4 years · $100 commission issuance fee · Written exam required (80%) |
| Max Notarial Fee | $5 per notarization for most acts (HRS § 456-17) |
Hawaii is one of the few states where notaries are overseen by the Department of the Attorney General rather than the Secretary of State. The AG’s Notary Public Office (NPO) handles applications, renewals, RON notifications, and oversight. All lost/stolen journal notifications, resignation location notices, and journal transmittals go to the AG’s office.
On the death or adjudication of incompetency of a notary, the personal representative, guardian, or any other person knowingly in possession of the journal must transmit it to the AG or an AG-approved repository. This differs from many states where journals are retained by the estate — Hawaii imposes an active transmittal duty on third parties.
Under HRS § 456-15(e), every entry must be made contemporaneously with the notarial act and contain all six fields. Hawaii is explicit: every act, including multiple copies of the same document, must be individually recorded without exception.
| 1 | Type, Date, and Time of the Notarial Act Auto-timestamped by NotaryAct at submission. NotaryAct dropdown covers all Hawaii-authorized act types. |
| 2 | Title/Type and Date of Document and Nature of the Transaction Both the document description AND the nature of the underlying act, transaction, or thing. Hawaii’s requirement is broader than most states. NotaryAct includes dedicated document title and transaction nature fields. |
| 3 | Full Printed Name, Address, and Signature of Each Signer and Witness Signature required if journal maintained on tangible medium. NotaryAct captures name, address, and electronic signature. Barcode scanner auto-fills name and address from any Hawaii driver’s license. |
| 4 | Identity Verification — Personal Knowledge If identity is based on personal knowledge: a statement to that effect. NotaryAct provides a personal knowledge checkbox for this scenario. |
| 5 | Identity Verification — Satisfactory Evidence (ID Details) If identity is based on satisfactory evidence: a brief description of the method, credential presented, identification number, and expiration. NotaryAct captures ID type and credentials per the requirement. |
| 6 | Fee Charged Hawaii’s maximum is $5 per notarization for most acts. NotaryAct includes a fee field in every entry. |
✔ NotaryAct is state-configured for Hawaii: All six required journal fields enabled, including the transaction nature field unique to Hawaii’s HRS § 456-15(e)(2). Signer signature captured electronically. Barcode scanner auto-fills name and address. 10-year cloud retention satisfies retention requirement. Journal location and transmittal notifications to the AG can be supported via the export function.
Other state guides: Alaska · California · Nevada · Washington · All 50 States →
NotaryAct is state-configured for Hawaii — all six HRS § 456-15 required fields enabled, AG transmittal support, 10-year encrypted cloud retention. Every act recorded, no exceptions.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Information reflects Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 456 and HAR Chapter 5-11 as in effect June 2026. Consult the Hawaii Department of the Attorney General Notary Public Office at notary.ehawaii.gov or qualified legal counsel for guidance specific to your situation.
