The Hawaii Notary exam is a rigorous assessment of your knowledge regarding state laws, ethical duties, and proper documentation procedures. Candidates must demonstrate proficiency in handling acknowledgments, jurats, and maintaining an official journal. Studying the official Hawaii Notary Public Manual is the most effective way to prepare for the challenging questions you will face.

If you are exploring notary commissioning requirements across multiple states, our CA Notary practice test covers California's unique signing agent procedures and state-specific laws that differ significantly from Hawaii's requirements.

Candidates preparing for notary exams in other states may also benefit from our AZ Notary practice test, which addresses Arizona's journal-keeping rules and identification standards that share some similarities with Hawaii's notarial practices.

The Hawaii Notary Public Manual is your primary resource. Most notary test questions are drawn directly from its chapters. Pay special attention to the fee schedules and bond requirements.

The total investment to become a commissioned Hawaii Notary is affordable, making it accessible for many professionals seeking to add this credential.

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Submit your renewal application at least 2 months before your expiration date. You will need to pass the Hawaii Notary exam again to renew.

Sample Hawaii Notary Exam Practice Questions

Try these questions from our free Hawaii Notary Exam practice tests. The correct answer and an explanation follow each question.

1. A Hawaii notary's employer asks to retain the notary journal when the notary leaves the company. Must the notary comply?

   • A. Yes — the employer owns the journal since they sponsored the commission
   • B. No — the journal belongs to the notary, not the employer
   • C. Only if the journal entries relate solely to employer business
   • D. Yes, if the employer provides a signed receipt

   Answer: B. No — the journal belongs to the notary, not the employer

   The notary journal belongs to the notary, not the employer. The notary must retain the journal regardless of employment changes.

2. A signer appears before a Hawaii notary but has no acceptable identification. The signer is accompanied by a friend, whom the notary personally knows. To properly identify the signer through this credible witness, the notary must:

   • A. A. Require the credible witness to sign an affidavit of identity.
   • B. B. Have the credible witness present their own valid government-issued ID.
   • C. C. Record the credible witness's address in the journal.
   • D. D. Administer an oath or affirmation to the credible witness, who then vouches for the signer's identity.

   Answer: D. D. Administer an oath or affirmation to the credible witness, who then vouches for the signer's identity.

   According to Hawaii law, a notary can identify a signer through a credible witness who is personally known to the notary. The core requirement for this process is that the credible witness must swear or affirm under penalty of perjury that the person appearing is the individual they claim to be.

3. A Hawaii notary discovers their record book has been stolen from their locked office. What is the notary's first required action according to Hawaii Administrative Rules?

   • A. Purchase a new record book and continue performing notarizations.
   • B. Wait to see if the record book is returned before taking any action.
   • C. Notify the Attorney General in writing within ten days of the discovery.
   • D. Publish a notice of the theft in a local newspaper.

   Answer: C. Notify the Attorney General in writing within ten days of the discovery.

   Hawaii Administrative Rules §5-11-18 and HRS §456-9(c)(6) require a notary to deliver written notification to the Attorney General within ten days after the loss, misplacement, or theft of a record book. They must also inform a law enforcement agency in the case of theft and provide a copy of the report to the Attorney General.

4. A Hawaii notary performs a notarial act but the signer refuses to sign the notary journal. What should the notary do?

   • A. Proceed with the notarization — the journal signature is optional
   • B. Refuse to complete the notarization since the signer's journal signature is required
   • C. Ask a witness to sign the journal on behalf of the signer
   • D. Note the refusal in the journal and use their own discretion on proceeding

   Answer: B. Refuse to complete the notarization since the signer's journal signature is required

   Under Hawaii law, the signer's signature in the notary journal is a required element of each entry. Refusal to sign the journal is grounds to decline the notarization.

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