Hawaii notary surety bond

A Hawaii notary surety bond is a promise, backed by a surety company, that helps pay a person who is harmed by a mistake or by misconduct of a notary. The bond is for the public. It is not for the notary. If the surety pays a claim, the notary usually has to pay the surety back.

Hawaii notary bond at a glance

Bond amount

$1,000

Commission term

Four years

Commissioned by

Hawaii Department of the Attorney General

Bond payable to

The State of Hawaii

Where the bond goes

Approved by a circuit court judge, then filed with the clerk of the circuit court where the notary resides

What Hawaii requires

1. Apply to the Department of the Attorney General for a notary commission.
2. Buy a $1,000 surety bond.
3. Have the bond approved by a judge of the circuit court in the circuit where you reside.
4. File the approved bond with the clerk of that circuit court.

Hawaii's bond process is a two step approval most states do not have: a circuit court judge signs off on the bond before it goes to the circuit court clerk for filing. It never goes to the Attorney General's office directly.

Three different dollar figures appear close together in the state's own guidance — a $20 application fee, a $100 commission issuance fee, and the $1,000 bond itself. They are not the same thing.

A notary bond does not replace notary errors and omissions (E&O) insurance. The bond pays the public. E&O protects you.

State rules change. Always check with the Hawaii commissioning authority for the current requirements before you apply. Details on this page were last checked on 2026-08-12.

Apply online in minutes. Same day issue is available in most cases.

A notary bond protects the public. E&O insurance is intended to protect you, the notary, against a claim that comes from an error, a mistake or alleged misconduct in your notarial work. Many Hawaii notaries add an E&O policy next to the bond.