Does a charity need to register to solicit donations in Hawaii?

Yes. Hawaii generally requires charitable organizations to register with the Hawaii Attorney General — Tax & Charities Division before soliciting contributions in the state, unless an exemption applies. The requirement reaches out-of-state charities soliciting Hawaii residents.

How much does charitable registration cost in Hawaii?

The initial registration fee is No fee, and renewal is $0–$600, tiered on revenue. Fees are stated as the state sets them; where a fee varies with contributions, the tiers are cited on this page.

When is the Hawaii charitable registration renewal due?

15th day of the 5th month after fiscal year end. The date is computed from the organization's own fiscal year end under the rule this page cites, so it differs between charities.

Are any charities exempt from registering in Hawaii?

Hawaii recognizes exemptions, and this page lists each one we check for with its statutory citation. At least one of them still requires a filing to claim it — an exemption is not always automatic. The state, not a third party, decides whether an exemption applies.

As of 2026-07-22 · verified against primary sources

Hawaii charitable solicitation registration: requirements, fees, and deadlines

Registration	Required
Agency	Hawaii Attorney General — Tax & Charities Division
Initial fee	No fee
Renewal fee	$0–$600, tiered on revenue
Renewal / report due	15th day of the 5th month after fiscal year end
Filing channel	Electronic filing available

Who must register

Hawaii generally requires charitable organizations to register with the Hawaii Attorney General — Tax & Charities Division before soliciting contributions there, unless an exemption applies. Requirements attach to out-of-state charities soliciting Hawaii residents as well as local ones.

HRS § 467B-2.1(a) · official source

How to register in Hawaii

01Register once with the Hawaii Attorney General's Tax & Charities Division before soliciting — online, with no registration fee. Registration doesn't renew; the ongoing obligation is the annual financial report.HRS § 467B-2.1(a) (register before soliciting); AG FAQ #5-#6 (no fee; registration does not renew).
02E-file the annual report: 990/990-EZ/990-PF filers within ten business days of actually filing with the IRS (IRS extensions flow through automatically); 990-N and non-filers by the 15th day of the fifth month after fiscal year end. The annual fee is tiered on total revenue, from $0 under $25,000 to $600 at $5 million and up, billed after the report is accepted.HRS § 467B-6.5(a) (deadlines; reports 'shall be electronically submitted'); § 467B-6.5(c) (fee tiers on total revenue).

Exemptions we check for

Likely exempt if it is a duly organized religious corporation, institution, or society exempt from filing Form 990 under IRC 6033(a)(3)(A)(i)/(iii)/(C)(i) — but Hawaii exemptions apply ONLY if the organization applies to the Attorney General and the application is approved (HRS § 467B-11.5).
HRS § 467B-11.5(1) + chapeau ('...if the organization submits an application for an exemption to the department and the department approves...'). Machine pro… · a filing is required to claim this exemption
Likely exempt if it normally receives less than $25,000 in contributions annually (three-year average, excluding membership dues, government funds, and 501(c)(3) grants) and employs no professional solicitor or fundraising counsel — subject to Hawaii's required exemption application and approval (HRS § 467B-11.5(8)).
HRS § 467B-11.5(8) + chapeau. Sound under-approximation · a filing is required to claim this exemption

The state, not Steadworthy, decides whether an exemption applies.

If you use a paid fundraiser

Hawaii's small-organization exemption (normally under $25,000 in contributions on a three-year average) is conditioned on using no professional solicitor or counsel — engaging one removes it, so an otherwise-exempt small charity can be required to register. All Hawaii exemptions also require a filed and approved application; none is automatic.

HRS § 467B-11.5(8) — small-org exemption conditioned on no professional solicitor or counsel; § 467B-11.5 chapeau (every exemption requires an approved appli…

If you haven't registered yet

Hawaii's late fee accrues at $20 a day, capped at $1,000, with a reasonable-cause exception — and the state periodically runs an amnesty program for delinquent filers (one ran July–August 2026). Getting current means e-filing the overdue reports and paying the accrued fees, or using an amnesty window when one is open.

HRS § 467B-6.5(d) — $20/day late fee capped at $1,000, reasonable-cause exception; Charities Amnesty Program observed on Hawaii Charities Online, 2026-07-22. · how to get current, calmly

Is your charity registered in Hawaii? Check free.

Hawaii registration: common questions

Does a charity need to register to solicit donations in Hawaii?: Yes. Hawaii generally requires charitable organizations to register with the Hawaii Attorney General — Tax & Charities Division before soliciting contributions in the state, unless an exemption applies. The requirement reaches out-of-state charities soliciting Hawaii residents.
How much does charitable registration cost in Hawaii?: The initial registration fee is No fee, and renewal is $0–$600, tiered on revenue. Fees are stated as the state sets them; where a fee varies with contributions, the tiers are cited on this page.
When is the Hawaii charitable registration renewal due?: 15th day of the 5th month after fiscal year end. The date is computed from the organization's own fiscal year end under the rule this page cites, so it differs between charities.
Are any charities exempt from registering in Hawaii?: Hawaii recognizes exemptions, and this page lists each one we check for with its statutory citation. At least one of them still requires a filing to claim it — an exemption is not always automatic. The state, not a third party, decides whether an exemption applies.

Nearby states

Fundraising rarely stops at a border — where Hawaii charities also commonly solicit:

CaliforniaRequired

Citations

HRS § 467B-2.1(a) · source · verified 2026-07-22
HRS § 467B-2.1(a) (register with the department) · source · verified 2026-07-22
No registration fee (AG FAQ #5 · source · verified 2026-07-22
HRS § 467B-6.5(c) · source · verified 2026-07-22
HRS § 467B-6.5(a), TWO branches · source · verified 2026-07-22
Annual reports e-file MANDATORY by statute (§ 467B-6.5(a) 'shall be electronically submitted') via efile.form990.org/states/hawaii; registration online-only … · source · verified 2026-07-22
HRS § 467B-11.5(1) + chapeau ('...if the organization submits an application for an exemption to the department and the department approves...'). Machine pro… · source · verified 2026-07-22
HRS § 467B-11.5(8) + chapeau. Sound under-approximation · source · verified 2026-07-22
HRS § 467B-2.1(a) (register before soliciting); AG FAQ #5-#6 (no fee; registration does not renew). · source · verified 2026-08-07
HRS § 467B-6.5(a) (deadlines; reports 'shall be electronically submitted'); § 467B-6.5(c) (fee tiers on total revenue). · source · verified 2026-08-07
HRS § 467B-6.5(d) — $20/day late fee capped at $1,000, reasonable-cause exception; Charities Amnesty Program observed on Hawaii Charities Online, 2026-07-22. · source · verified 2026-08-07
HRS § 467B-11.5(8) — small-org exemption conditioned on no professional solicitor or counsel; § 467B-11.5 chapeau (every exemption requires an approved appli… · source · verified 2026-08-07

Statuses and requirements reflect public records and cited sources as of the dates shown. Informational, not legal advice.