Signing checklist for Hawaii

The signing steps in Hawaii law, step by step. Pick your documents to see them.

Checked against official sources: October 31, 2026.

Short answer

This checklist lists the signing rules in Hawaii law. It does not check whether your document is valid.

Financial power of attorney: Signed by you; the law requires no notary or witnesses
Health care directive: Notarized or signed by two adult witnesses

Choose your form State of Hawaii Statutory Form Power of Attorney, with optional Agent's Certification. You do not have to use it. You do not have to use this form. It states that it does not authorize health care decisions. Official text
Law: HRS §§ 551E-51, 551E-52
Sign it Signed by you, or in your conscious presence by another person you direct to sign your name.
Law: HRS §§ 551E-3(b), 551E-15, 551E-16
Notary or witnesses Sign the power of attorney. Hawaii's Act does not require witnesses or a notary for it to be valid, but a signature acknowledged before a notary is presumed genuine, and the rules requiring third parties to accept a power of attorney apply only to an acknowledged (notarized) one.
Law: HRS §§ 551E-3(b), 551E-15, 551E-16
The agent signs too No signed acceptance is required. An agent accepts by acting as agent or by other conduct showing acceptance.
Law: HRS §§ 551E-3(b), 551E-15, 551E-16
If you sign electronically A photocopy or electronically sent copy of a power of attorney has the same effect as the original. The Act's relationship to the federal E-SIGN Act is set in HRS 551E-62.
Law: HRS §§ 551E-3(b), 551E-15, 551E-16

Choose your form Advance Health-Care Directive - optional form. You do not have to use it. Official text
Law: HRS § 327E-16
Sign it A power of attorney for health care must be in writing, dated and signed by you.
Law: HRS § 327E-3(a)-(d)
Notary or witnesses Sign and date the power of attorney for health care, then either have two qualified adult witnesses sign it or acknowledge it before a notary public in Hawaii. Individual instructions alone can be oral or written.
Law: HRS § 327E-3(a)-(d)
Who cannot witness Two witnesses who each saw you sign or saw you acknowledge your signature. A witness cannot be a health-care provider, an employee of a health-care provider or facility, or your agent. At least one witness must be neither related to you by blood, marriage or adoption nor entitled to any part of your estate under your will or by law. Instead of witnesses, you can acknowledge it before a notary public in Hawaii.
Law: HRS § 327E-3(a)-(d)
If you live in a nursing facility Unless related to you by blood, marriage or adoption, your agent cannot be an owner, operator or employee of the health-care institution where you are receiving care.
Law: HRS § 327E-3(a)-(d)

Give copies to the right people Keep the signed documents in a safe place and give copies to your health care proxy and your doctors. Some states have registries that store an advance directive for doctors and your proxy.

This checklist lists the signing rules in Hawaii law. It does not check whether your document is valid.