Hawaii apostille services and document preparation

Hawaii's authentication authority

• The Lieutenant Governor authenticates Hawaii state documents. The destination determines whether an apostille or certification is appropriate; verify the applicable treaty relationship and receiving authority's requirements.
• Hawaii-notarized private documents must first receive notary-signature certification from the Circuit Court Legal Documents Office where that notary is registered, then go to the Lieutenant Governor.
• Official court and other state records instead need the issuing custodian's certification and state or department seal; ask the office about records missing either.
• Do not impose private-document notarization on certified public records.

Birth, marriage and death certificates: check the copy's issue date

• Current instructions allow certificates issued after January 1, 2025 to go directly to the Lieutenant Governor with the application if they bear the State Registrar's signature and embossed Hawaii DOH seal.
• For an older copy or no certificate, order a new one through DOH's apostille process.
• This cutoff concerns when the copy was issued, not when the birth, marriage or death occurred.
• Ask the office about a certificate dated exactly January 1 or with unclear markings.
• Online apostille application and prepayment do not replace submission of the required physical documents.

Ordering through DOH

• The DOH coordinated route requires a new certificate request by mail, eligibility and ID materials, the apostille application, applicable payments and a prepaid self-addressed return envelope.
• DOH does not accept an already-certified copy for this new-record order. It forwards the newly issued certificate for authentication.
• Use current forms to distinguish the record fee from the apostille fee and avoid paying twice if prepaid.
• This DOH route differs from direct submission of an eligible recent certificate described above.

Divorce and other records

• Obtain divorce documentation from the court that granted the divorce. DOH no longer maintains divorce records.
• Courts by circuit: First Circuit (Oahu), Second Circuit (Maui, Molokai, Lanai), Third Circuit (Hawaii Island), Fifth Circuit (Kauai).
• Ask for the certified court record appropriate for overseas use, not merely an online case display.

Other document types

School-record example

• UH Manoa's registrar provides a transcript and diploma authentication and notarization request. Its instructions specify the school's ordering method, required documents and onward envelopes for First Circuit Court and the Lieutenant Governor.
• Other schools have their own procedures. Contact your registrar before altering an original diploma and confirm whether the recipient wants an original, certified copy or transcript.

Timing and review

• The Lieutenant Governor does not offer paid expedited service.
• We can help review preparation and coordinate routing, but cannot guarantee a government completion date. New-record issuance and shipping add time.
• Some documents may be eligible for same-day service; send your document type, destination and deadline so we can confirm the specific service available. This does not mean Hawaii government apostilles are issued same day.

Remote notarization

Our Florida RON service may suit eligible privately signed documents where Florida identity, witness and document rules and recipient requirements are met. It follows Florida authentication routing and does not reclassify a Hawaii government record.

Frequently asked questions

Hawaii locations served

Miami Dade Apostille serves clients throughout Hawaii by mail. Documents can be sent from any island — no in-person visit is required.

• Honolulu
• Hilo
• Kailua
• Pearl City
• Waipahu
• Kaneohe
• Mililani
• Kahului
• Kihei
• Lihue
• Kailua-Kona
• Wailuku

Sources

• Hawaii Lieutenant Governor: apostille and certification application ↗
• Hawaii Lieutenant Governor: apostille certification instructions ↗
• Hawaii Lieutenant Governor: apostilles and certifications FAQs ↗
• Hawaii DOH: vital records apostilles ↗
• Hawaii DOH: divorce record guidance (PDF) ↗
• UH Manoa Registrar: apostille certification request (PDF) ↗