Hawaii licensing

Who and what this applies to

Limited to the construction category and statutory provision described below.

The rules

• Hawaii requires the appropriate license before acting or advertising as a covered general engineering, general building or specialty contractor. The small-work exemption applies only when aggregate labor and materials do not exceed $1,500, and it does not apply when a building permit is required or when the work is part of a larger project or divided to evade licensing. Source

Primary sources

• HRS §444-9
• HRS §444-2(4)

Sources reviewed 2026-09-30. This guide covers the projects and rules stated above.

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