HI registered agent
Hawaii registered agent service, $5 a year
Hawaii requires every corporation and LLC on its books to keep a registered agent at a real address in the state. Here is what Hawaii law says about who that agent has to be and where it has to be.
What Hawaii requires of a registered agent
The requirement
Hawaii uses a standalone Registered Agents Act (HRS ch. 425R, Model Registered Agents Act) for appointment mechanics across entity types. The corporation act and LLC act each require continuous maintenance of a registered agent with a business address in the State who may be: an individual resident of the State, a domestic entity authorized to transact business there, or a foreign entity authorized to transact business there. Filings must state an actual street address or rural route box number in the State (sec. 425R-3).
Each corporation shall continuously maintain in this State a registered agent, who shall have a business address in this State and may be: (1) An individual who resides in this State; (2) A domestic entity authorized to transact business or conduct affairs in this State; or (3) A foreign entity authorized to transact business or conduct affairs in this State.
Source: state statute, via incFACTS: HRS sec. 414-61; sec. 428-107; sec. 425R-3
How we comply
We don't.
What Hawaii does to your company when we don't
Here is what the state does to an entity that has no agent, or whose agent is us.
Administrative dissolution
Failure to appoint and maintain an agent for service of process, or to file a statement of change in the agent's name, is a ground for administrative dissolution of a corporation (60-day cure after mailed notice); for LLCs the parallel remedy is administrative termination under sec. 428-809(3).
The department director may commence a proceeding under section 414-402 to administratively dissolve a corporation if the corporation fails to: (1) Pay any fees prescribed by law; (2) File its annual report for a period of two years; (3) Appoint and maintain an agent for service of process as required; or (4) File a statement of a change in the name of the agent as required under chapter 425R.
Source: state statute, via incFACTS: HRS sec. 414-401(3)-(4); sec. 428-809(3)-(4)
Revocation (foreign entities)
Failure of a foreign corporation (or foreign LLC under sec. 428-1006(a)(1)(C)) to appoint and maintain an agent for service of process is a ground for revocation of its certificate of authority, with a 60-day notice-and-cure period.
The department director may commence a proceeding under section 414-462 to revoke the certificate of authority of a foreign corporation authorized to transact business in this State if: (1) The corporation fails to: (A) Pay any fees prescribed by law; (B) File its annual report for a period of two years; (C) Appoint and maintain an agent for service of process as required; or (D) File a statement of a change in the name or business address of the agent as required ...
Source: state statute, via incFACTS: HRS sec. 414-461(1)(C); sec. 428-1006(a)(1)(C)
And also
An administratively terminated LLC continues only temporarily to wind up and then ceases existence upon completion of winding up; administrative dissolution/termination does not terminate the registered agent's authority.
A limited liability company administratively terminated continues its existence temporarily but may carry on only business necessary to wind up and liquidate its business and affairs under section 428-802 and to notify claimants under section 428-807. The company ceases existence upon the completion of these matters.
Source: state statute, via incFACTS: HRS sec. 428-810(c)-(d); sec. 414-402(c)-(d)
No access to the courts
A foreign corporation or foreign LLC transacting business in Hawaii without a certificate of authority (the state a revoked entity falls into) may not maintain a proceeding/action in any Hawaii court until it obtains one, and is liable for all fees and penalties it would have owed.
A foreign corporation transacting business in this State without a certificate of authority may not maintain a proceeding in any court in this State until it obtains a certificate of authority.
Source: state statute, via incFACTS: HRS sec. 414-432(a), (d); sec. 428-1008(a), (e)
The bill to come back
Reinstatement fee
Reinstatement must be sought within two years and requires all overdue reports, payment of all delinquent fees and penalties, and a tax-clearance writing from the tax department; the LLC reinstatement application fee is $25.
A corporation administratively dissolved under section 414-402 may apply to the department director for reinstatement within two years after the effective date of dissolution. The application shall: (1) Recite the name of the corporation and the effective date of its administrative dissolution; (2) Contain all reports due and unfiled; (3) Contain the payment of all delinquent fees and penalties; and (4) Contain a certificate or other writing from the department of taxation indicating that all taxes owed by the corporation have been paid ...
Source: state statute, via incFACTS: HRS sec. 414-403(a); sec. 428-811(a); sec. 428-1301(a)(7)
What happens to the lawsuit you never saw
Substituted service
Cascade in the entity codes: service may be made on the registered agent, officer, or director (for LLCs: agent, manager, or member); if none can be found, on the manager/superintendent or any person in charge of the entity's property, business, or office; and if no such person can be found in the State and no registered agent is on file (or the named agent is not found), by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, to the entity's principal office. Perfection dates mirror the mail rules (receipt, signed return receipt, or 5 days after deposit).
If no officer, director, manager, superintendent, or other person in charge of the property, business, or office of the corporation can be found within the State, and the corporation has not filed with the department director, pursuant to this chapter, the name of a registered agent upon whom legal notice and process from the courts of the State may be served, or the person named is not found within the State, service may be made upon the corporation by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, addressed to the corporation at its principal office.
Source: state statute, via incFACTS: HRS sec. 414-64(a)-(c); sec. 428-110(a)-(c); sec. 414-440(b) (foreign corporations)
Statutory text as captured by incFACTS (retrieved 2026-08-01, verified word-for-word against the state code 2026-08-10). Laws change. The statute governs; this page does not.