Hawaii
Hawaii licenses private detectives and detective agencies through the Board of Private Detectives and Guards. The licensing law and rules have not changed since 2023, but carry licensing has: a 2023 act exempted licensed detectives from the registered-owner rule for carry licenses, and in June 2026 the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Hawaii’s default ban on carrying onto private property open to the public.
At a glance
- Authority
- Board of Private Detectives and Guards, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (HRS 463-2, 463-3)
- Statute
- HRS chapter 463
- Rules
- HAR chapter 16-97, last amended in 2011; fees in HAR 16-53-34
- Who is licensed
- Individual private detectives, and detective agencies, which must employ a licensed principal detective (HRS 463-5). Agency employees doing investigative work are registered, not licensed (463-6(b)). Attorneys and credit reporting businesses are exempt (463-13).
- Qualifications
- At least 18, a high school education, experience equivalent to 4 years of full-time investigative work, no conviction reflecting unfavorably on fitness unless annulled or expunged, and a history of honesty and fair dealing (HRS 463-6(a)). Police experience counts only with at least 1 year of full-time investigative work (HAR 16-97-35). A written exam with a 75% passing score and an appearance before the Board (16-97-26, 16-97-41); national fingerprint check (16-97-37).
- Renewal
- Every 2 years, by June 30 of even-numbered years; unpaid licenses are forfeited and may be restored within 1 year with a penalty fee (HRS 463-10). Detective renewal $344 including the compliance resolution fund fee; agency $408 (HAR 16-53-34).
- Continuing education
- None for detectives (the 463-10.5 requirement applies to guards)
- Bond or insurance
- A surety bond of at least $5,000 (HRS 463-12); no liability insurance requirement.
- Firearms
- Detectives may not carry firearms or other weapons without written authorization from the appropriate state agency or county police chief (HAR 16-97-17), and carrying a handgun requires a county carry license (HRS 134-9).
Changes, 2023 to 2026
Felony of nonconsensual disclosure of intimate images
Creates the offense of nonconsensual disclosure of intimate or private images in HRS chapter 711, including disclosing or threatening to disclose such an image to compel conduct, obtain more images or anything of value, or affect a family court proceeding.
For licensees: Handle intimate images found in an investigation only as evidence, through counsel or law enforcement.
Supreme Court strikes the default ban on carry onto private property open to the public
Held that HRS 134-9.5, which bars carry license holders from carrying handguns onto private property of another without the express authorization of the owner, lessee, operator, or manager, violates the Second and Fourteenth Amendments as applied to private property open to the public. The Court decided only that question.
For licensees: Owners may still exclude armed people, and the sensitive-place limits in HRS 134-9.1 and the written authorization rule in HAR 16-97-17 were not before the Court.
Expunged cases removed from the Judiciary’s public databases
Requires the courts to seal or remove from the Judiciary’s publicly accessible databases information about the arrest or case of a person whose expungement order has been sent to the court.
For licensees: Expunged matters should drop out of the Judiciary’s online court databases within a reasonable time after the expungement order reaches the court.
Public servants may demand removal of personal information from the internet
On a written request from a covered public servant, such as a judge, legislator, department head, or elections worker, any agency, person, or organization must remove protected personal information, including home address and personal phone and email, from the internet within 3 business days (HRS 92H-2). Exceptions include FCRA consumer reports and information governed by the federal Driver’s Privacy Protection Act (92H-6).
For licensees: Remove a requesting public servant’s protected information from anything you post online.
Using a computer to commit a privacy violation becomes a separate crime
Adds violation of privacy in the first and second degree (HRS 711-1110.9, 711-1111) to the offenses for which knowingly using a computer to identify, pursue, surveil, or contact the victim is a separate crime (HRS 708-893(1)).
For licensees: Computer-assisted surveillance that violates the privacy statutes carries an added charge until July 1, 2027.
Carry licensing rewritten; licensed detectives exempt from the registered-owner rule
Rewrites HRS 134-9. A carry license applicant must be the registered owner of the firearm, except detectives, private detectives, investigators, and guards with an active chapter 463 license (134-9(d)(2)). Adds a list of sensitive places where carrying is barred (134-9.1), with an exception for a chapter 463 licensee acting within the scope of employment and expressly authorized by the owner, lessee, operator, or manager of the premises.
For licensees: A licensed detective may seek a carry license for a firearm registered to an employer; written authorization from the appropriate state agency or county police chief under HAR 16-97-17 is still required.
Checked and unchanged
- No 2023–2025 act amended HRS chapter 463, and the Legislature’s 2026 bill status reports show no enacted bill on detectives; HAR chapter 16-97 has not been amended since 2011.
- Hawaii enacted no comprehensive consumer privacy or data broker registration law in 2023–2026. Act 252 of 2026, on social media account deletion, takes effect July 1, 2027.
Last updated October 18, 2026Source: United States Council for Law & InvestigationCite as: United States Council for Law & Investigation, “Hawaii private detective licensing: Licensing Law Tracker,” uscli.org/licensing-tracker/hawaii (last updated October 18, 2026). Text licensed CC BY 4.0.