HI NOTARY Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield HI NOTARY facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. What is the primary difference between an acknowledgment and a jurat? → A jurat requires an oath, while an acknowledgment only involves verifying the signature
2. Can a Hawaii notary certify a copy of a U.S. passport photo page? → No, passports are federal government documents and cannot be copy-certified by notaries
3. Under Hawaii law, which of the following actions constitutes a prohibited act for a notary public? → Providing legal advice to the signer regarding the document's contents.
4. A Hawaii notary wants to charge $25 per RON notarization. Is this permissible? → Only if the $25 falls within the applicable statutory maximum fee for notarial acts
5. How should a notary handle a situation where they are asked to notarize a document but have a reasonable doubt about the signer's understanding of the document? → Refuse to notarize the document until the signer fully understands it
6. A notary applicant in Hawaii is required to obtain a surety bond. What is the correct amount of the bond and its primary purpose? → $1,000; to protect the public from financial harm due to the notary's misconduct.
7. A person brings a notary the original of a court judgment and asks for a certified copy. What should the notary do? → Refuse, because court records must be certified by the court clerk
8. If a Hawaii notary moves to another state but their commission has not expired, what is their duty? → They must notify the Attorney General and resign their commission
9. What phrase is typically found in a Hawaii jurat certificate that distinguishes it from an acknowledgment? → '...subscribed and sworn (or affirmed) before me...'
10. What key information must be recorded in a notary journal for each notarization? → All of the above
11. How should a Hawaii notary handle their journal when they receive a new commission after their previous one expired? → Start a completely new journal for the new commission term
12. When must a Hawaii notary attach or emboss their official seal on a document? → At the time the notarial act is performed
13. What should a notary do if they realize they have a personal relationship with one of the parties involved in a notarization? → Refuse to notarize the document to avoid any appearance of bias
14. Must a Hawaii notary keep a separate journal for each type of notarial act? → No — a single sequential journal recording all notarial acts is standard
15. What information must be recorded in a Hawaii notary's journal for each notarial act? → Date and time, type of act, signer's name, ID used, signature of signer, and fee charged
16. What type of electronic seal must a Hawaii notary use for RON documents? → A tamper-evident electronic seal that complies with state standards
17. A Hawaii notary is purchasing a new official seal. According to state regulations, the seal must be a rubber stamp that is: → Circular, with a diameter between 1 and 2 inches
18. Before being commissioned as a Hawaii notary, what must an applicant file with the state? → An oath of office
19. A Hawaii notary inadvertently makes an error in a journal entry. How should this be corrected? → Draw a single line through the error, write the correction, and initial it
20. A parent wants a Hawaii notary to notarize a document for their 16-year-old child. The child has no ID. What is the best approach? → The parent can act as a credible witness if they meet the requirements
21. What is a notary's primary responsibility in terms of confidentiality? → To protect the personal information of signers and keep records confidential
22. A Hawaii notary is asked to backdate a notarial certificate to reflect a date when the signer was previously present. This is: → A form of fraud and a serious violation of Hawaii notary law
23. What is the 'venue' in a Hawaii notarial certificate? → The state and county where the notarial act took place
24. When administering an oath in Hawaii, what must the notary ensure from the person taking the oath? → They verbally swear or affirm the truthfulness of their statement
25. Which of the following is a mandatory qualification for an individual applying to become a Notary Public in the State of Hawaii? → Be a resident of Hawaii.
26. What does a Hawaii notary attest to when performing a copy certification? → That the copy is a true, correct, and complete reproduction of the original
27. A Hawaii notary is asked to notarize a document written entirely in a foreign language. What is the correct approach? → The notary may proceed if able to determine the type of notarial act required
28. After completing a copy certification, where does the notary place or attach the certificate? → To the copy itself or written directly on it
29. A Hawaii notary notices a blank space in a document that is about to be notarized. What should the notary do? → Refuse to notarize until the signer completes or crosses out the blank
30. Under Hawaii law, what type of impression must a Hawaii notary's seal make? → A photographically reproducible impression — typically an inked rubber stamp