How to revoke a power of attorney in Hawaii

What Hawaii law says about revoking a power of attorney, and a free letter you can fill in and print.

Checked against official sources: October 31, 2026.

Short answer

You can revoke your power of attorney or an agent's authority. Hawaii's Uniform Power of Attorney Act does not set a required form or method for revoking.

Words used in Hawaii

In Hawaii you name an agent for money and property in a power of attorney, and an agent for health care in a power of attorney for health care, which is part of an advance health-care directive. Your treatment wishes are 'individual instructions', which can be oral or written. If an adult cannot meet essential needs and less restrictive means will not work, a court can appoint a guardian; a conservator manages property.

An agent (also called an attorney-in-fact) is the person you choose to act for you. You are the principal.

Money and property
Power of attorney; State of Hawaii Statutory Form Power of Attorney
The person you choose
Agent (the law also covers an 'attorney-in-fact')
Health care
Advance health-care directive (an individual instruction and/or a power of attorney for health care)
Treatment wishes
Individual instruction (part of the advance health-care directive)
Court-appointed decision-maker
Guardian (limited or unlimited) for an incapacitated person; conservator for a protected person's estate; emergency guardian

What Hawaii law says about revoking a power of attorney

How to revoke

You can revoke your power of attorney or an agent's authority. Hawaii's Uniform Power of Attorney Act does not set a required form or method for revoking. Signing a new power of attorney does not revoke an old one unless the new one says so.

Law: HRS 551E-6

Telling others

Revocation does not affect an agent or other person who acts in good faith without actual knowledge of it; their acts still bind you.

Law: HRS 551E-6(d)

Law: HRS § 551E-6

Source: Official text

Free letter: revoke a power of attorney

The date on the document you signed. If you are not sure, use your best estimate.

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Other formats

Sign the letter and keep a copy. This tool does not check whether your document is valid, and it is not legal advice.

When it ends and how to revoke it

It ends when
  • You die
  • You become incapacitated, if the power of attorney is not durable
  • You revoke the power of attorney
  • The power of attorney says it ends
  • Its purpose is accomplished
  • You revoke the agent's authority, or the agent dies, becomes incapacitated or resigns, and no other agent is named
  • For a spouse-agent, when an action for divorce, annulment or legal separation is filed, unless the document says otherwise
Banks and other businesses

A person asked to accept an acknowledged (notarized) power of attorney must accept it, or ask for an agent's certification, an English translation or a lawyer's opinion, within 7 business days, and then accept within 5 business days after receiving it. It may not demand a different form. Exceptions include not otherwise dealing with you, a conflict with federal law, a good-faith belief the power is invalid, and a report of suspected abuse to the Department of Human Services adult protective and community services branch. Wrongful refusal can lead to a court order and liability for attorney's fees and costs.

Law: HRS 551E-15, 551E-16

Law: HRS § 551E-6

Good to know in Hawaii

  • A Hawaii health care power of attorney needs two qualified witnesses or a Hawaii notary; at least one witness must not be a relative or heir.

    Law: HRS 327E-3

  • To revoke your choice of health care agent you must sign a writing or personally tell your supervising health-care provider.

    Law: HRS 327E-4(a)

  • If you have no agent, family and close friends choose one surrogate by consensus; there is no ranked list.

    Law: HRS 327E-5

  • A financial power of attorney does not need a notary to be valid, but banks' duty to accept applies only to a notarized one.

    Law: HRS 551E-3, 551E-16

Changes in 2024–2026

No change to the power of attorney, health care directive or guardianship rules described here in 2024-2026. Act 208 (2025) set up a guardianship- and conservatorship-related court resources pilot program. Bills to adopt the Uniform Health-Care Decisions Act (2023) (SB1323 in 2025-2026, SB3077 in 2026) did not pass.

Free help in Hawaii

Report abuse or exploitation

Hawaii Department of Human Services - Adult Protective and Community Services Branch (Adult Protective Services) · (808) 832-5115

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