If you are looking for the Hawaii Secretary of State, there isn't one. The Business Registration Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) does that job. It is known as BREG, and it registers LLCs, corporations, partnerships and trade names, takes annual reports and issues certificates.
Hawaii also ties its annual reports to the calendar quarter. Your due date is the end of the calendar quarter in which you registered, so two companies formed months apart can have different deadlines. Our page on what a Secretary of State does explains how other states split these tasks.
Hawaii business name search
BREG's records are searched through the Business Name Search on the DCCA business portal. That portal replaced Hawaii Business Express, so older eHawaii links may now redirect. You search by the entity's name.
| Official business search | hbe.dcca.hawaii.gov (cca.hawaii.gov, checked ) |
|---|---|
| You can search by | business name, registered agent (separate agent search existed on eHawaii) (cca.hawaii.gov, checked ) |
| Name availability check | hbe.dcca.hawaii.gov (cca.hawaii.gov, checked ) |
There is no separate officer search. Officers, partners, members, managers and agents show up on the entity's record once you find it by name. A search that looks clear is a useful check, but it is not a guarantee that BREG will accept the name.
Hawaii filing fees
Forming an LLC with form LLC-1 costs $50. Articles of Incorporation also cost $50. An LLC from another state files form FLLC-1 for $50 and needs a good standing certificate from its home state dated within 60 days.
| Form an LLC | $50 (cca.hawaii.gov, checked ) |
|---|---|
| Form a corporation | $50 (cca.hawaii.gov, checked ) |
| Register an out-of-state LLC | $50 (cca.hawaii.gov, checked ) |
| Reserve a name | $10 (cca.hawaii.gov, checked ) |
| Annual or biennial report | LLC: $12.50; corporation: $12.50; nonprofit: $2.50; partnership: $5 (cca.hawaii.gov, checked ) |
| Good standing certificate | $5 (cca.hawaii.gov, checked ) |
| Faster processing | Expedited review $25 for most filings; $75 for mergers and conversions (cca.hawaii.gov, checked ) |
Rather not file it yourself? Ask our private filing service about forming or reporting in Hawaii. State fees are separate.
Expedited review adds $25 to most filings and $75 to mergers and conversions. A $1 state archives preservation fee applies to some filings. Reserving a corporate name costs $10.
The Hawaii annual report
Each registered company files an annual report by the last day of the quarter it registered in. Those dates are March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31. No report is due in the year of registration.
| Fee | LLC: $12.50; corporation: $12.50; nonprofit: $2.50; partnership: $5 (cca.hawaii.gov, checked ) |
|---|---|
| When it is due | Due by the end of the quarter in which the entity was registered (Mar 31, Jun 30, Sep 30 or Dec 31); no report in the year of registration (cca.hawaii.gov, checked ) |
| If you file late | $10 (cca.hawaii.gov, checked ) |
| Where to file | hbe.dcca.hawaii.gov (cca.hawaii.gov, checked ) |
Online, an LLC or corporation pays $12.50, a partnership $5 and a nonprofit $2.50. The fee schedule lists $15 for a regular filing. For a wider view of deadlines, see annual report deadlines by state.
Name rules in Hawaii
An LLC name must include "limited liability company", L.L.C. or LLC. A corporation name needs a word such as "corporation" or "limited", or an abbreviation like corp., inc. or ltd.
| LLC name must include | limited liability company, L.L.C., LLC (cca.hawaii.gov, checked ) |
|---|---|
| Corporation name must include | corporation, incorporated, limited, corp., inc., ltd. (cca.hawaii.gov, checked ) |
| How different a name must be | Name may not be the same as or substantially identical to another registered or authorized entity name, a reserved name, a foreign corporation fictitious name, or a registered trade name, trademark or service mark. The director may allow a similar name if the other holder consents in writing and words are added to make it distinguishable. (cca.hawaii.gov, checked ) |
| Reservation fee | $10 (cca.hawaii.gov, checked ) |
| Reservation lasts | 120 days (cca.hawaii.gov, checked ) |
A name may not be the same as, or substantially identical to, another registered name, a reserved name, a foreign corporation's fictitious name, or a registered trade name or mark. The director may allow a similar name when the other holder consents in writing and words are added to tell the two apart. An approved reservation is held for 120 days.
Hawaii good standing certificate
BREG calls this document a Good Standing Certificate, and it is also known as a Certificate of Compliance. The standard fee is $5. If you need it faster, the expedited fee is $10.
What it costs, where to order it and what blocks it are in our Hawaii good standing guide.
Out-of-state companies registering in Hawaii need the reverse: a certificate from their home state. Read our guide to the certificate of good standing for more on both.
Trade names in Hawaii
Trade names, often called DBAs, are registered with BREG at the state level, not with a county. A registration lasts five years and then must be renewed. The department sends no reminder, so note the date yourself.
Trade names (DBAs) are registered with DCCA BREG, state level. Registration is valid 5 years, then renewal; the Department sends no reminders. Registration gives notice of a claim but does not give ownership. Fee not captured. (cca.hawaii.gov, checked )
Registering a trade name gives public notice of your claim. It does not make you the owner of the name.
Contacting BREG
| Office | Business Registration Division (BREG) (cca.hawaii.gov, checked ) |
|---|---|
| Division | Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) (cca.hawaii.gov, checked ) |
| Phone | 1-844-808-DCCA (3222), press option 2 (cca.hawaii.gov, checked ) |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 40, Honolulu, HI 96810 (cca.hawaii.gov, checked ) |
| Contact page | cca.hawaii.gov/contact-us (cca.hawaii.gov, checked ) |
BREG works from Room 205 of the Leiopapa A Kamehameha Building in Honolulu. Checks and mailed filings go to P.O. Box 40, Honolulu, HI 96810. For processing times, call the DCCA line and choose option 2, since the division does not post them online.
Sources
- cca.hawaii.gov/breg/: office name, division, business search, online filing. Checked .
- cca.hawaii.gov/breg/fees/: mailing address, name reservation fee, corporation filing fee, expedite fees, certificate fee. Checked .
- cca.hawaii.gov/contact-us/: phone, contact page. Checked .
- cca.hawaii.gov/breg/faqs/: search fields, name check, name reservation term, report due date, assumed names (DBA). Checked .
- cca.hawaii.gov/breg/registration/dllc/: LLC name endings, LLC filing fee. Checked .
- cca.hawaii.gov/breg/registration/dpc/: corporation name endings. Checked .
- cca.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/HRS-Section-414-53-Administrative-Order-of-Abatement-for-Infringement-of-Corporate-Name.pdf: name rule. Checked .
- cca.hawaii.gov/breg/registration/fllc/: foreign LLC fee. Checked .
- cca.hawaii.gov/breg/third-quarter-hawaii-annual-business-reports-due-2026/: report fee, late penalty. Checked .