How to Become a Notary Public in Hawaii

Checked against Hawaii Department of the Attorney General, Notary Public Office · Verified 2026-10-10

Exam: Required
Training: Not required
Term: 4 years
State fee: $20 application fee plus $100 commission fee (government notaries pay no fee)
Bond: $1,000 official surety bond, approved by a circuit court judge and filed with the circuit court clerk
Commissioned by: Hawaii Department of the Attorney General, Notary Public Office

Take the free notary practice test →

Who can apply

Be a U.S. citizen, or a U.S. national or permanent resident who is seeking citizenship once eligible.
Be a Hawaii resident.
Be at least 18 years old.

Step by step

Create an eHawaii.gov account.
Get a letter of justification from an officer or partner of your employer (self-employed applicants write their own).
Get a character letter from a reputable Hawaii resident who is not your employer or a relative.
Apply online with both letters and pay the $20 non-refundable application fee.
After the Attorney General approves you, schedule the written exam through your notary account.
Pass the closed-book exam with a score of 80% or higher.
Pay the $100 commission fee.
Buy a seal engraved with your name, commission number, "Notary Public," and "State of Hawaii."
Get a $1,000 surety bond, have it approved by a circuit court judge, and file it with the circuit court clerk.
File a copy of your commission, a seal impression, and a signature sample with the circuit court clerk where you live.

Official application →

Training and exam

Exam: Written, closed-book exam given by the Attorney General's Notary Office at sites in your county, after your application is approved; 80% to pass; $10 per exam.

Practice for the notary exam free — role & powers, prohibited acts, and procedures & recordkeeping →

What it costs in Hawaii

Fixed amounts are set by the state. Items marked “your quote” are priced by private sellers, so enter what you’re quoted.

Application fee (Attorney General)$20
Written exam fee (per attempt)$10
Commission fee$100
Notary seal$
$1,000 surety bond premium$
Circuit court clerk filing fee$
Notarial record book$

Estimated total in Hawaii$130Plus 4 items with no state-set price. Add your quotes above to complete the total.

Cost details from the state

Exam fee, $10 per attempt
Exam rescheduling fee, $15 with 48 hours' notice or $20 without; no-show fee $25
Surety bond premium
Notary seal
Circuit court clerk fee for filing your commission copy (amount not stated)
Notarial record book

How long it takes

The Attorney General's notary rules (HAR 5-11-22) give the office up to six months to act on a complete application, and an application not completed within 90 days can be treated as abandoned.

What other sites get wrong about Hawaii

Myth: Becoming a Hawaii notary can cost as little as $80 in total.

Fact: The Attorney General's fixed fees alone are $130: a $20 application fee, a $10 exam fee and a $100 commission fee, before the bond, seal and record book. source

Myth: You take the Hawaii notary exam first and submit the passing certificate with your application.

Fact: You apply first. Only after the Attorney General approves your application do you schedule the written exam through your notary account. source

After you're commissioned

Renewal: Submit a renewal application ($20) and pay the $100 renewal fee before your commission expires, or it may be forfeited.

Remote online notarization: Yes. A notary with an active commission can apply to the Attorney General for a separate remote online notary commission ($20 application plus $100 commission fee).

Good to know in Hawaii

Restoring or renewing: A forfeited commission can be restored within one year of expiration ($10 application plus $80 restoration fee); after that you must reapply as a new applicant. Remote online notary renewal costs $120.

What you can charge: Under HRS 456-17, the maximum is $5 per signer for an acknowledgment, $5 for an oath (original plus four copies), and $2.50 for each extra duplicate. Any of these acts performed for a remotely located signer can be up to $25.

Sources

General information, not legal advice. Fees and rules change — confirm with Hawaii Department of the Attorney General, Notary Public Office before you apply.