Hawaii Resident Agent Service

Why Hawaii requires a resident agent

Hawaii keeps appointment mechanics for all entity types in its own Registered Agents Act, HRS ch. 425R, modeled on the Model Registered Agents Act. Its corporation and LLC acts both require a resident agent at all times with a business address in the State, and the agent may be an individual who lives in the State or an entity, domestic or foreign, authorized to transact business there. Each filing must give a real street address, or a rural route box number, located in the State (sec. 425R-3). HRS sec. 414-61; sec. 428-107; sec. 425R-3

What happens if you lapse

• A corporation that fails to appoint and keep an agent for service of process, or does not file a statement reporting a change in the agent's name, can be dissolved administratively after mailed notice and a 60-day cure period, and an LLC faces administrative termination instead under sec. 428-809(3). HRS sec. 414-401(3)-(4); sec. 428-809(3)-(4)
• A foreign corporation, or a foreign LLC under sec. 428-1006(a)(1)(C), that does not appoint and keep an agent for service of process can have its certificate of authority revoked after a 60-day notice and cure period. HRS sec. 414-461(1)(C); sec. 428-1006(a)(1)(C)
• You have two years to seek reinstatement, and you must file all overdue reports, pay every delinquent fee and penalty, and provide a tax-clearance writing issued by the tax department, with a $25 application fee for LLC reinstatement. HRS sec. 414-403(a); sec. 428-811(a); sec. 428-1301(a)(7)
• An LLC that has been administratively terminated continues only for a time to wind up and ceases to exist once winding up is complete, and neither administrative dissolution nor termination ends the resident agent's authority. HRS sec. 428-810(c)-(d); sec. 414-402(c)-(d)
• A foreign corporation or foreign LLC that transacts business in Hawaii with no certificate of authority, which is where a revoked entity lands, cannot maintain a proceeding or action in a Hawaii court until one is obtained, and it owes every fee and penalty it would otherwise have paid. HRS sec. 414-432(a), (d); sec. 428-1008(a), (e)

Switching to us

We prepare and file the change of resident agent for you. Hawaii charges $25 for an LLC HRS § 425R-2(a)(3) and $25 for a corporation HRS § 425R-2(a)(3).

Official Hawaii links

• Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs - (808) 586-2727
• Business entity search
• Statutes

Frequently asked

Do I need a resident agent in Hawaii?

Almost every state does, and the Hawaii rule is set out above with its citation. Where the law leaves a choice, a resident agent is still the practical way to make sure service of process reaches you.

How much does Hawaii resident agent service cost?

$129 a year, with no setup fee, the same price in all 50 states plus DC, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Service of process is received and scanned the same business day.

Can I switch my Hawaii resident agent to ResidentAgents.com?

Yes. Order online and we prepare the change of agent filing for you; the state's filing fee is shown on this page.