Who issues apostilles in Hawaii?

Hawaii apostilles are issued by the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, not a Secretary of State, since Hawaii does not have a separate Secretary of State office.

How much is a Hawaii apostille?

Hawaii's state certification fee is historically very low (often around $1 per document), though this can change. Confirm the current fee on the official page.

West · HI

The Aloha State

How to get an apostille in Hawaii

In Hawaii, apostilles are issued by the Hawaii Office of the Lieutenant Governor — Certifications & Apostilles. Here is the process, the state fee, how long it takes, and what a Hawaii apostille looks like.

Capital: Honolulu
Governor (2026): Josh Green
State flower: Yellow Hibiscus (Puaʻ Aloalo)
State bird: Nēnē (Hawaiian Goose)

Apostille signed by Hawaii Office of the Lieutenant Governor — Certifications & Apostilles

Draft — pending source verification. This page was drafted from the standard Hawaii process and the official source linked below. Always confirm the current fee, address, and steps on the official page before you mail anything.

Step-by-step: an apostille in Hawaii

01
Confirm the document is Hawaii-issued or notarized by a Hawaii notary public.
02
If your document is a private document (power of attorney, affidavit, diploma, corporate paperwork), have it notarized first — the Office of the Lieutenant Governor authenticates the notary's commission, not your signature directly. Vital records and court documents skip this step (they are certified by the issuing office instead).
03
For vital records, obtain a certified copy from the Hawaii Department of Health (Vital Records).
04
Complete the certification/apostille request and identify the destination country.
05
Submit by mail or in person with the fee and a prepaid return envelope.
06
Receive your apostille or certificate of authentication.

Hawaii apostille fees & processing time

Competent authority	Hawaii Office of the Lieutenant Governor — Certifications & Apostilles
State fee	$1 per document (verify current fee)
Processing time	Mail-in is typically 1–2 weeks; in-person service is available in Honolulu.
Mailing / submission	Mail to the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, Certifications, in Honolulu (verify the current address online). Include the fee, destination country, and prepaid return postage.

Source: Hawaii Office of the Lieutenant Governor — Certifications & Apostilles — https://ltgov.hawaii.gov/the-office/certifications/Draft — verify fees, address, and steps against the official page before relying on them.

Documents commonly apostilled in Hawaii

Birth, marriage, and death certificates (certified copies from the state vital-records office)
Divorce decrees and court orders (certified by the clerk of court)
Powers of attorney and affidavits (signed before a notary)
Single-status / no-record affidavits for marriage abroad
Diplomas, transcripts, and degree certificates
Corporate documents — articles of incorporation, good-standing certificates, board resolutions
Commercial and export documents

Federal documents (such as an FBI background check) are apostilled by the U.S. Department of State, not by Hawaii.

Specimen

What a Hawaii apostille looks like

A Hawaii apostille contains the standard 10 fields required by the Hague Convention, naming the Hawaii Office of the Lieutenant Governor — Certifications & Apostilles as the issuing authority. Below is an illustrative specimen — it is not a valid document and contains no real data.

See specimens for all states →

APOSTILLE

(Convention de La Haye du 5 octobre 1961)

1.Country United States of America
2.has been signed by [NAME OF SIGNER]
3.acting in the capacity of [CAPACITY — e.g. Notary Public]
4.bears the seal / stamp of [ISSUING OFFICIAL / SEAL]
5.at [CITY / PLACE]
6.the [DATE]
7.by Hawaii Office of the Lieutenant Governor — Certifications & Apostilles
8.No. 0000000
9.Seal / Stamp [OFFICIAL SEAL]
10.Signature [SIGNATURE]

SPECIMEN — NOT A VALID DOCUMENT. Illustrative example only, showing the standard apostille layout for Hawaii. Contains no real names, numbers, signatures, or government seal. Not legal advice.

Hawaii apostille FAQ

Who issues apostilles in Hawaii?: Hawaii apostilles are issued by the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, not a Secretary of State, since Hawaii does not have a separate Secretary of State office.
How much is a Hawaii apostille?: Hawaii's state certification fee is historically very low (often around $1 per document), though this can change. Confirm the current fee on the official page.

Not legal advice. This guide is general information about the Hawaii apostille process and may not reflect the latest fees, addresses, or procedures — always confirm with the Hawaii Office of the Lieutenant Governor — Certifications & Apostilles via the official source above. The specimen shown is an illustrative example, not an official document.

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