Hawaii Business License: Who Needs One & How to Apply (2025)

What Is a Business License in Hawaii?

A business license is a permit issued by a local, state, or federal body in order to allow businesses to perform a specific business activity and/or operate legitimately.

So, if there isn’t a “general business license” in Hawaii, what exactly is there?

Well, Hawaii — like the vast majority of states — imposes different requirements depending on where you’re located and what you actually do.

For example:

• A restaurant in Honolulu will need a Food Establishment Permit from the Hawaii Department of Health and a business license from the City and County of Honolulu Department of Customer Services.
• A real estate office in Kailua-Kona will need a business license from Hawaii County’s Vehicle Registration & Licensing Division ($10 annual fee), and all agents must have professional licenses from the DCCA Professional & Vocational Licensing Division.
• A tour operator in Hilo will need a Public Utilities Commission (PUC) license for commercial tour operations on public roads with the license number displayed on all vehicles, a business license from Hawaii County, and if offering ocean tours, may need additional permits from the Department of Land and Natural Resources for commercial ocean recreation activities.
• A retail surf shop in Lihue, Kauai will need a business license from Kauai County’s Motor Vehicle and Licensing Division, and must register through Hawaii Business Express for their business entity. 

Do I Need a Hawaii Business License? 

Well, the answer to this will ultimately depend on your business’s situation. You can have a look at our table below in order to get a general idea:

Hawaii Business Licensing at a Glance

Jurisdiction	Business Licenses	Who Needs It & Where to Apply
Local	Health Permits, Zoning Permits, Occupancy Certificates, Industry-Specific Permits, etc.	Varies by city and county. Contact your local municipality to determine local requirements.
State	General Excise Tax (GET) License	Businesses selling goods or services or conducting business activities in Hawaii. Apply via Hawaii Department of Taxation.
	Professional Licenses	Required for regulated professions (e.g., accountants, contractors, cosmetologists, etc.). Apply via the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Professional & Vocational Licensing Division (PVL).
	Industry-Specific State Licenses	Businesses in regulated industries (e.g., food establishments, liquor, childcare, environmental permits). Apply through the relevant Hawaii agency.
Federal	Industry-Specific Licenses	Businesses involved in federally regulated activities such as agriculture, aviation, firearms, alcohol, broadcasting, or wildlife. Apply through the relevant federal agency (e.g., USDA, FAA, ATF, FCC, FWS)

*While this table is meant to give you a general idea, it’s by no means exhaustive. For all your licensing needs, we suggest either going with a professional licensing service or consulting with a business attorney.

How to Get a Business License in Hawaii

The process of obtaining a business license in Hawaii will depend on the permit in question, but generally involves completing the following steps:

1. Form a Business Structure & Obtain an EIN

We recommend formalizing your business before acquiring a business license in order to avoid potentially having to repeat this process again later down the line. 

This also gives other benefits depending on the business model, such as:

• Personal liability protection
• Improved legitimacy 
• Larger access to loans and corporate finance

Note: You should obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) after forming your LLC. You can have a look at our How to Get an EIN overview for more information. 

2. Apply for the Right Business License in Hawaii

This step will depend on the business license in question.

Hawaii Local Business Licenses

Many Hawaii cities and counties require local business licenses or permits to be obtained. This can be in addition to the common state-wide licenses talked about above.

Here are some common local permits you may need:

• Industry Permits: This includes health permits required for restaurants, food trucks, and businesses handling food products. Food Establishment Permits are required from the Hawaii Department of Health and vary by island location (e.g., if your restaurant is based in Honolulu, you would apply for an Oahu Food Establishment Permit through the Hawaii Department of Health Food Safety Branch).
• Zoning Permits: You may need this to ensure that your business’s location is zoned appropriately and complies with local laws (e.g., if you were based in Honolulu, you would check with the City and County of Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting for zoning permits and conditional use permits).
• Sign Permits: These can be required before installing business signage (e.g., if you were based in Hawaii County, you would check with the Hawaii County Planning Department for sign permit requirements).
• Certificate of Occupancy Permits: Required for most businesses before they can legally occupy a building or space. This verifies that the structure meets building codes and is safe for the intended use (e.g., if your business is in Honolulu, you would apply for building permits through the City and County of Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting).
• Business and Occupation Licenses: Required in some counties for specific business types. Hawaii County requires Business and Occupation Licenses for certain businesses, which must be displayed prominently and are non-transferable (e.g., if your business is in Hilo, you would apply through Hawaii County’s Vehicle Registration & Licensing Division).
• Home-Based Business Permits: Required for businesses operating out of a residence, with restrictions that can vary by county. In Hawaii County, this requires a Home Occupancy Permit and can only be established in areas zoned for single-family dwellings (e.g., if your home business is in Hawaii County, you would need to verify zoning compliance and obtain proper permits through the county).

To find your local county’s official contact information and licensing requirements, you can visit the Hawaii State Association of Counties or check individual county websites:

• City and County of Honolulu
• Hawaii County (Big Island)
• Maui County
• Kauai County

Hawaii State Business Licenses

Below we’ve included the most common business licenses that are required on a state level. 

Hawaii General Excise Tax License

You can register for a Hawaii General Excise Tax License online or by mail.

Apply for a Hawaii General Excise Tax License

OPTION 1: Apply Online With Hawaii Business Express

Apply Online

– OR –

OPTION 2: Apply by Mail

Download Form

Fee: $20

Mailing Address:
Hawaii Department of Taxation
P.O. Box 1425
Honolulu, HI 96806-1425

Hawaii Professional Licenses

If you’re interested in a professional license, you’ll need to head over to the relevant state commission, as this is not handled on a local level. We’ve provided the licensing boards of a few of the most common professions below to get you started:

• Hawaii Medical Board: Licenses physicians, physician assistants, podiatrists, osteopathic physicians, and emergency medical technicians (EMT-Basic, EMT-Advanced, EMT-Paramedic). Most licenses renew annually or biennially by January 31st.
• Contractors License Board: Oversees licensing for general contractors, specialty contractors, and construction-related trades. All contractor licenses renew by September 30th of every even-numbered year.
• Board of Nursing: Regulates Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN), Registered Nurses (RN), and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN). Includes continuing competency requirements and utilizes the NURSYS system for license verifications.
• Real Estate Branch: Licenses real estate salespersons, brokers, and business entities involved in real estate transactions. Also registers condominium projects and associations. Handles both individual licenses and business registrations.
• Board of Public Accountancy: Oversees the licensing and regulation of Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) practicing in Hawaii.
• Insurance Division: Regulates insurance agents, brokers, and companies operating in Hawaii. Includes life, health, property, casualty, and other insurance license types.
• Barbering and Cosmetology Board: Licenses barbers, cosmetologists, nail technicians, and related beauty industry professionals.

For more information on how to go about getting licensed, you can have a look at StateRequirement’s in-depth licensing guides. 

Industry-Specific State Licenses

Some Hawaii businesses require additional licenses based on the specific industry they operate in.

Here are some common examples of industry-specific state licenses in Hawaii:

• Liquor License: Required for businesses that manufacture, distribute, or sell alcoholic beverages. Regulated by county liquor commissions – the Honolulu Liquor Commission, Hawaii County Department of Liquor Control, Maui County Department of Liquor Control, and Kauai County Department of Liquor Control.
• Motor Vehicle Dealer License: Required for businesses selling three or more vehicles per calendar year or those involved in soliciting, offering, or negotiating the buying, selling, or exchange of motor vehicles. Regulated by the Motor Vehicle Industry Licensing Board under DCCA.
• Child Care License: Required for child care centers and home-based providers caring for children. Regulated by the Hawaii Department of Human Services Child Care Licensing Program. Includes Before & After School Child Care Facilities, Group Child Care Centers, Group Child Care Homes, Infant & Toddler Child Care Centers, and registered Family Child Care Homes.
• Medical Cannabis Dispensary License: Required for businesses involved in the cultivation, manufacture, and distribution of medical cannabis products to registered patients. Regulated by the Hawaii Department of Health Office of Medical Cannabis Control and Regulation. Hawaii currently has eight licensed dispensaries operating 24 locations statewide, with each licensee permitted to operate up to two dispensaries and two cultivation facilities. New license applications are not currently being accepted.
• Food Establishment Permit: Required for restaurants, food trucks, and businesses handling food products. Applications vary by island and are processed through the Hawaii Department of Health Food Safety Branch with separate applications for Oahu, Hilo, Kona, Maui/Molokai, and Kauai.

Hawaii Environmental Permits

If your business’s industry will mean that it could negatively impact the environment, there’s a good chance you’ll need some sort of license or permit from the Hawaii Environmental Management Division or Environmental Health Services Division. 

Examples of industries regulated here include:

• Clean air
• Clean water
• Safe drinking water
• Solid and hazardous waste
• Wastewater 
• Asbestos 
• AC/ventilation 
• Radiation 

Federal Business Licenses for Hawaii LLCs

If your business is in a federally regulated industry (which is uncommon), it’ll need to acquire the appropriate business license from the right body before starting to operate. 

A full list of industries regulated at a federal level can be found below:

• Agriculture: Overseen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture
• Alcoholic Beverages: Overseen by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau and the Local Alcohol Beverage Control Board
• Aviation: Overseen by the Federal Aviation Administration.
• Firearms, Ammunitions, and Explosives: Overseen by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
• Fish and Wildlife: Overseen by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
• Commercial Fishing: Overseen by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Service.
• Maritime Transportation: Overseen by the Federal Maritime Commission.
• Mining and Drilling: Overseen by the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement.
• Radio and Television Broadcasting: Overseen by the Federal Communications Commission.
• Transportation and Logistics: Overseen by the U.S. Department of Transportation

Hawaii Business License Renewal

Depending on your business license, you may need to renew it periodically — usually within one or two years. 

Your Hawaii general excise tax tax license does not need to be renewed. 

Several of the local permits will also need to be renewed annually; this includes health department permits, signage permits, and fire department permits, which generally all need to be renewed annually.

Having said that, this will depend on both your location and the license in question.

Hawaii Business License FAQs

Quick Links

• Hawaii Department of Taxation
• Hawaii Business Express
• DCCA Professional & Vocational Licensing Division
• Hawaii State Association of Counties
• Hawaii Department of Health