Forming a Corporation in Hawaii

Each state has its own set of rules for businesses seeking to form a corporation there. If you've decided to incorporate in Hawaii, incorporate.com will take care of all the details. We'll research the availability of your company name and help you prepare and file your Articles of Incorporation with the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. We can also assist with many of your follow-up needs such as amendment filings, written consents, and annual report preparation and filing.

Here are some helpful facts about Hawaii's incorporation requirements:

Corporate Name Requirements

Hawaii requires corporations to have names that can't be confused with the names of any existing domestic or foreign corporation, partnership, limited liability company or limited liability partnership as well as fictitious names, trade names, trademarks or service marks registered with the Secretary of State. When you incorporate with incorporate.com's help, we'll research your company name to make sure it meets Hawaii's standards.

Permitted designations: Hawaii corporate names may be followed by several approved designations, including:

• Corp.
• Corporation
• Inc.
• Incorporated
• Limited
• Ltd.

Restricted designations: The use of certain words and phrases in corporate names is considered "restricted" in Hawaii, meaning they require special approval by the state. These include:

• Banc
• Bank
• Banker
• Banking
• Certified Public Accountant
• Citius Altius Fortius
• Cooperative
• Cpa
• Credit Union
• Escrow
• Escrow Depository
• Exchange
• Financial Institution
• Financial Services Loan Company
• Insurance
• Interinsurance
• Interinsurer
• International Banking Corporation
• Intra-Pacific Bank
• Olympiad
• Olympic
• Pa
• Public Accountant
• Reciprocal
• Savings and Loan
• Savings Association
• Savings Bank
• Trust
• Trust Company
• Underwriters
• Underwriting

Prohibited designations: Hawaii prohibits the following words or phrases in corporate names:

• Post office
• Postal office

Filing Requirements

Remember, when you work with incorporate.com, we'll take care of your incorporation filing for you. This information is presented only for your reference.

Required documents: The state of Hawaii requires businesses to file Articles of Incorporation with the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

Turnaround time: In general, turnaround time for incorporating a business in Hawaii is 10-12 business days. Expedited filings, which require an additional fee, typically take 2-3 days.

Follow-up filings: Not required.

Officers/Directors Information

Minimum number: Corporations are required to have three directors if there are three or more shareholders, two directors if there are two shareholders and one director if there is one shareholder. Corporations must also have a president, vice president, secretary and treasurer.

Director qualifications: A director who is a resident of Hawaii must maintain a registered office and agent.

Appearance in articles: Not required. Directors' names and addresses do not have to appear in the Articles of Incorporation.

Written consent: Permitted. Directors may act in writing in lieu of holding a meeting.

Principal office location

Hawaii permits a corporation's principal office to be located outside of the state.

Annual Reports

Time to file: Corporations must file annual reports with the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs on or before the last day of the calendar quarter that marks the anniversary of incorporation.

Turnaround time: Turnaround time at the state is 10 business days.

Signatures: Emailed or faxed signatures are accepted.

Filing extensions: Not permitted.