How to Look Up an LLC in Hawaii (2026)
To look up an LLC in Hawaii, search the state's business registry. It's run by the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Business Registration Division. The search is free.
It works whether you know the exact company name or just part of it. That search moved to a new online portal on July 6, 2026. An old bookmark or a saved link may no longer work.
Beyond that basic search, Hawaii charges separate fees for LLC paperwork. Examples include a Certificate of Good Standing, a certified copy and a name reservation. This guide covers the search itself and what those filings cost. It also covers how to reserve a name before you file, and how to reach the Division directly.
Quick Summary
- The Division keeps one registry for LLCs, corporations, partnerships and other Hawaii business entities.
- A name reservation, a Certificate of Good Standing and a certified copy each carry their own separate fee.
- Phone, email and mail all reach the same office if the online search doesn't answer your question.
Where to Search for a Hawaii LLC Online
Hawaii moved the Business Registration Division's search and document tools to a new portal. The switch took effect July 6, 2026. Older links to Hawaii Business Express now redirect there automatically.
Use the current tool rather than a bookmarked page. Expedited review of any request is paused for now during that transition.
| Search Method | What to Enter | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Free business name search | Full or partial business name | Confirming an LLC is on file and finding its record |
| Order documents from a search result | The specific entity record, opened from a search result | Certificates, certified copies and plain copies |
| Phone, email or mail | Business name or filing details | Questions the online search can't resolve |
Search the Business Registry
Open the Division's business search and document portal. Type the business name into the search box and review the list of matching entities.
Open the one you want. Its record page is also where you order any certificates or copies tied to it. There's no charge just to search and open a record.
Order a Certified or Plain Copy
Regular copies and certified copies of filed documents are both ordered online, straight from an entity's record. Search under the business name, then open the record and use the document-ordering option shown there. Per the Division's published fee guidance, a regular copy costs $3. Adding certification brings the total to $13.
How to Reserve a Hawaii LLC Name or Get Proof of Good Standing
Hawaii LLCs are governed by HRS Chapter 428, the state's Uniform Limited Liability Company Act [1]. To qualify for reservation, the name must contain "Limited Liability Company" or an abbreviation like LLC or L.L.C. That's per the Division's current filing guidance. Reserving a name costs $10, and the reservation holds for 120 days.
There's no cancellation form. A signed letter from the applicant is all the Division needs to release a reservation early. Letting the 120 days lapse works too, if you'd rather just let it expire.
Order a Certificate of Good Standing
A Certificate of Good Standing, also called a Certificate of Compliance, costs $5. It confirms an LLC's current standing to banks, lenders or another state's filing office. Order it the same way you'd order a copy, through the same document-ordering option on the record.
How to Check for Existing Trademarks in Hawaii
Before you commit to a name, search the federal trademark database at the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Registering an LLC name with the state doesn't clear it against a nationwide trademark. The two searches cover different legal risks.
Register a State Trade Name, Trademark or Service Mark
Hawaii also lets you register a trade name, trademark or service mark separately from your LLC's legal name. That's under HRS Chapter 482 [2]. A trade name covers the name a business does business under. A trademark or service mark covers a specific product or service instead.
Registering any of the three is optional. The Division puts it plainly: "Registration is not required in order for you to own the trade name." Still, registering puts other filers on notice of your claim to it. The application fee is $50.
Reasons to Perform a Hawaii LLC Search
A rejected filing costs you a second fee. Search the registry first and confirm the name is actually open before you file paperwork of your own. Before you sign a contract, extend credit or invest in a Hawaii company, pull its record yourself. That beats taking someone's word for its standing.
Branding collisions are avoidable too. Check the registry before you settle on a trade name or trademark. That way it doesn't overlap with a name already on file.
Search the same registry before you form an LLC in Hawaii if you're just getting started. It confirms your first choice is open. A company that needs a new point of contact for legal mail should compare registered agent services in Hawaii first.
If you're closing the business instead, see how to dissolve an LLC in Hawaii. For a company formed somewhere else, start at our how to look up an LLC hub instead.
How to Contact the Business Registration Division Directly
Call 1-844-808-3222 and select option 2 for business registration questions. The office is open 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time, Monday through Friday, except state holidays.
You can also email breg@dcca.hawaii.gov or send a fax to (808) 586-2733. Mail reaches the same office at Business Registration Division, P.O. Box 40, Honolulu, HI 96810. The walk-in office sits at 335 Merchant Street, Room 201, Honolulu.
Filing by Mail, Email or Fax Takes Longer
Filings sent by email, mail or fax are accepted. Processing just runs slower than filing online, so build in extra time if you choose one of those routes. Email document filings to breg-doci-filing@dcca.hawaii.gov with your contact information and an email address included.
FAQs
Can I Reserve a Business Name in Hawaii?
Yes, you can reserve a business name in Hawaii for $10 through the Business Registration Division's online portal. The reservation holds the name for 120 days.
Why Register a Federal Trademark for My Hawaii Business?
Registering a federal trademark protects a product or service name nationwide, separate from your LLC's legal name with the state. It's optional, but it can help you avoid a naming dispute once your business grows beyond Hawaii.
What's the Difference Between a Trade Name and a Trademark in Hawaii?
The difference is what each one covers. A trade name is the name your business does business under, sometimes called a DBA. Trademarks and service marks, by contrast, protect one product or service rather than the whole company.
What If You Can't Find Your LLC in the Hawaii Search?
If the Hawaii search can't find your LLC, try the exact legal name on file instead of a nickname or a DBA. The registry indexes the entity's registered name. If there's still no match, call the Business Registration Division directly at 1-844-808-3222, option 2.
References:
- https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol08_Ch0401-0429/HRS0428/HRS_0428-.htm
- https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol11_Ch0476-0490/HRS0482/HRS_0482-.htm
