Hawaii Articles of Incorporation

Hawaii articles of incorporation are filed to create a corporation.

Preparing and filing your articles of incorporation is the first step in starting your business corporation. Approval of this document secures your corporate name and creates the legal entity of the corporation. Only after this approval can the corporation apply for tax IDs, obtain business licenses, sign contracts, and otherwise conduct business.

Benefits

Incorporating provides many important benefits:

• Limits the liability of directors, officers, and shareholders
• Fulfills statutory requirements to register your business name
• Provides governance and adds credibility

Fast Facts

For Domestic Corporations:

Agency:	Hawaii Business Registration Division (BREG)
Form:	Articles of Incorporation
Instructions:	Instructions for Preparing and Filing Articles of Incorporation and Information for Domestic Profit Corporations
Filing Method:	Mail, fax, in-person or online
Agency Fee:	$51 + optional $25 expedite fee
Turnaround:	~7-14 business days by mail. ~3-5 business days by fax, in-person, or online. ~1-3 business days if you file online and pay the $25 expedite fee.
Law:	Hawaii Statutes - Chapter 414: Hawaii Business Corporation Act. Refer to Table of Contents for help navigating the Act.

Other Helpful Hawaii Facts

As you are preparing to incorporate, keep in mind the following requirements specific to Hawaii.

Hawaii Directors

• Number: One or more required.
• Qualifications: None.
• Quorum: Majority of directors, unless bylaws fix a different number. No less than one third.

Hawaii Officers

• As stated in the bylaws. One person may hold multiple offices. One officer is required to be responsible for maintaining corporate records.

Hawaii Bylaws

• Required: Yes.

Hawaii Annual Shareholder Meeting

• Required: Yes.
• Action by written consent: Allowed if enough shareholders consent to equal the number required to take action by vote.

Hawaii Shareholders

• Qualifications: N/A
• Stock Certificate: Not required.
• Voting Trusts Allowed: Yes.