Advance Directive Form

Hawaii’s Advance Directive form specifies an individual’s living and last will and instructions regarding their health care and treatment. It also authorizes a proxy. The form must be signed by the individual, attorney, and two witnesses.

How to Order a Death Certificate

The following people can request death certificates in Hawaii:

• Deceased’s spouse
• Deceased’s parents, legal guardians, and grandparents
• Deceased’s children and grandchildren of legal age
• Other deceased’s family members presenting proof of relation
• Representative of deceased’s estate or family members
• A person allowed to obtain the certificate by court order
• A person who has filed an adoption petition and needs to determine the death of a child’s parent

The required application information includes:

• Deceased’s name
• Date and place of death
• Applicant’s name
• Applicant’s relation to the deceased
• Copy of applicant’s government-issued photo ID
• The purpose for the request

The certificate and one certified copy cost $10. An additional copy costs $4. Cash is not accepted and all fees are non-refundable.

The application can be sent by mail to:

State Department of Health

Office of Health Status Monitoring

Issuance/Vital Statistics Section

P.O. Box 3378

Honolulu, HI 96801

Or handed in-person at the same address.

Digital Estate Planning Law

Hawaii SB2298 Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act authorizes an individual’s legal representative who can access and control their digital assets and communications. This bill came into effect on July 1, 2016.

Death With Dignity or Aid-in-Dying or Physician-Assisted Death

Hawaii gives terminally ill state residents an option to die at their chosen time following the Our Care, Our Choice Act that went into effect on January 1, 2019. All updates on this matter can be accessed here.

Organ Donation Registry

Hawaii’s organ donation registry can be accessed here.

Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST)

Hawaii’s POLST form can be accessed here. This form must be completed only after a conversation with a patient or their representative. It’s necessary for patients who are at risk of a life-threatening clinical event due to a life-limiting medical condition.

Probate Laws

Information on Hawaii legislation on decedent's will regarding their estate and other assets can be found in Title 30A: Uniform Probate Code.

Estate and Inheritance Tax

Hawaii has an estate tax of up to 16%. The full information can be found in Estate and Transfer Tax Act Chapter 236D.