How to Get a Hawaii Liquor License

Last updated: September 11, 2026

Hawaii has no state liquor authority. Four county liquor commissions license every bar, restaurant and store, each on its own fee schedule and its own rules, under one state statute. HRS chapter 281 creates a liquor commission for each county (§ 281-11) and gives it the power to set license terms, fees and employee rules (§ 281-17). The Honolulu Liquor Commission, the Maui Department of Liquor Control, the Hawaii County Department of Liquor Control and the Kauai Department of Liquor Control each issue the Class 2 restaurant and Class 5 dispenser licenses a food-and-drink business needs (§ 281-31), and the price of the same license varies by island: a general restaurant license carries a basic fee of $1,800 a year in Honolulu, $600 on Maui and in Hawaii County, and $480 on Kauai, and every county adds a percentage assessment on gross liquor sales. What the statute fixes statewide is the process: no license issues without a public hearing (§ 281-52) noticed at least 45 days ahead with mailings to property owners within 500 feet (§ 281-57), a majority protest from those neighbors forces refusal (§ 281-59), a restaurant licensee must certify that at least 30 percent of gross revenue will be food, and no restaurant or bar license issues without proof of $1,000,000 in liquor liability insurance (§ 281-45). Every county requires a trained, card-holding manager on duty whenever the doors are open.

Training: Every County Issues Its Own Manager Card, and Honolulu Cards Bartenders Too

Chapter 281 does not itself require a server permit; § 281-17 lets each commission “prescribe, by rule, the terms, conditions, and circumstances under which persons or any class of persons may be employed by holders of licenses,” and all four have used it. Honolulu goes furthest. Under Rule § 3-82-38.5, dispenser, cabaret, hotel, club and brewpub licensees may employ only people registered with the Commission (the “liquor card”) in any area where liquor is sold or served; for a Class 2 restaurant, only managers and bartenders must register. Managers (blue card, on-premises; purple for retail) and bartenders (yellow card) must first complete the Commission’s server training program and pass its examination, covering “identifying and dealing with intoxicated persons, reviewing liquor laws and rules, and dangers of driving while intoxicated”; the card is good for four years from the training date, costs $10, is valid only for the premises named on it, and a registered manager must be in active charge whenever the premises is open (§ 3-82-38.9).

Maui requires an “employee approved by the director” in active charge at all times a premises is open (Rule § 08-101-70): a licensee or managerial employee who is 21 or older, has passed the department’s liquor laws and rules examination and attended an approved server training program; the certificate runs four years and is renewed by re-examination, and the department charges $20 for the card. Kauai issues a blue card (on-premises) or red card (off-premises) to a manager 21 or older who scores at least 86 percent on the department’s written exam; a blue-card manager must be in active charge whenever an on-premises establishment is open, the card is valid four years, and anyone selling or serving must be at least 18 and supervised by a card holder. Hawaii County runs its own liquor exam and server-training program through its Department of Liquor Control; its website blocks automated retrieval, so confirm the card term and fee with the Hilo or Kailua-Kona office. All four counties, with the State, co-produced on-premises and off-premises server training videos that Maui posts for new-hire orientation. Statewide, § 281-78 forbids any licensee or employee to sell or serve liquor to a minor or to “any person at the time under the influence of liquor,” with a good-faith defense for a convincing fake ID that the licensee must prove; 18-to-20-year-olds may sell and serve under supervision; and a commission may fine a licensee up to $5,000 per offense, suspend or revoke (§ 281-91). Selling without a license is a class C felony (§ 281-101).

Four Commissions, Four Fee Schedules

Under § 281-31 the license a restaurant needs is Class 2, which requires the applicant to certify that “no less than thirty per cent of the establishment’s gross revenue” will come from food and comes in general (all liquor), beer-and-wine and beer kinds, in a standard or a music-and-dancing category; a bar without the food test holds a Class 5 dispenser license, in the same kinds and categories plus hostess and nudity categories. A dispenser may convert to a restaurant license at one hearing without notice once it meets the food test. Hotels hold Class 12, dance clubs with food Class 11 cabaret, and a restaurant may cater off-premises with commission approval. Under § 281-17.5 a commission’s fees must bear “a direct and proportionate relationship” to its own regulatory costs, and money beyond 20 percent of its budget is credited back to licensees, which is why every county pairs a flat basic fee with a percentage assessment on gross liquor sales that it recalculates each year.

Honolulu (City and County of Honolulu, Honolulu Liquor Commission): a new application costs $2,375, of which $2,000 is the publication deposit and $375 the nonrefundable filing fee. Annual fees are Restaurant General $1,800 (standard) or $1,980 (music and dancing), Restaurant Beer and Wine $1,380, Restaurant Beer $540, Dispenser General $1,800 standard rising to $2,640 for every category combined, Hotel $5,940, Cabaret $3,000 and Retail General $1,800. On top of the basic fee, Rule § 3-81-17.51 assesses an additional license fee of one-half of one percent of gross liquor sales above a deductible the Commission sets each year, capped at $25,000 for a restaurant or dispenser and $15,000 for a retail store (one-quarter of one percent), reported on the annual Gross Liquor Sales report due July 31.

Maui (Department of Liquor Control, Kahului): basic fees under Rule § 08-101-40 are restaurant and dispenser general 600, beer and wine 300, beer 150, and hotel, cabaret and condominium hotel 1,200, in dollars, paid by June 15 for the fiscal year, plus a percentage fee on gross liquor sales computed from the department’s formula (estimated expenditures less basic fees and carryover, divided by estimated gross sales) and assessed each October for the prior year; a temporary license is $200 for 120 days. Hawaii County (Department of Liquor Control, Hilo and Kailua-Kona, applications through the eHawaii portal): a $50 application fee plus $2.50 online, a $200 publication deposit, and annual fees from $150 to $1,200 by class: restaurant or dispenser general $600, beer and wine $300, beer $150, cabaret $750, hotel $1,200; the department says the process “may take up to three months or more.” Kauai (Department of Liquor Control, Lihue): a $100 application fee plus $5 online, a $350 publication deposit, and annual fees from $180 to $1,200: restaurant or dispenser general $480, beer and wine $180, beer $120, cabaret $600, hotel $900; Kauai’s own rule requires a restaurant to derive at least 35% of gross revenue from food. Hawaii County and Kauai each add a gross liquor sales percentage fee billed through the portal. All four counties’ licenses expire June 30.

The Hearing, the Notice and the Neighbors’ Veto

Section 281-53 requires a written, notarized application naming every LLC member (or every officer, director and 25 percent shareholder), describing the premises exactly, and stating the class and kind sought; a knowingly false statement is a misdemeanor. Section 281-45 bars a license to any minor or unpardoned felon, or to an entity whose 25 percent owner would be barred, requires a Department of Taxation tax clearance certificate from every applicant, transferor and transferee, and, for class 2, 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17 and 18 licenses, “proof of liquor liability insurance coverage in an amount of $1,000,000” at issuance, renewal and transfer. An investigator reports, the commission may deny at a preliminary hearing, and otherwise sets a public hearing (§ 281-57) with published notice in each of two consecutive weeks, the hearing date “not less than forty-five days after the first notice,” at the applicant’s cost. The applicant then mails notice at least 45 days before the hearing to at least two-thirds of the owners and lessees of record within 500 feet of the premises (three-fourths of those within 100 feet), and in Honolulu, the one county over 500,000 people, to two-thirds of the registered voters and small businesses within 500 feet as well, except for class 2, 4, 12 and 15 applications; an affidavit and master list are filed within seven business days. Any person may protest (§ 281-58), and under § 281-59 the commission must refuse the license if a majority of the registered voters, or a majority of the property owners and lessees, within 500 feet file protests; otherwise it decides in its discretion within 90 days (extendable to 120). A denied applicant may not reapply for the same premises for one year (§ 281-60). Every county’s process also includes a state and county tax clearance, zoning clearance, and health and fire inspections before the license is paid for and issued.

What It Costs

License or requirement	Honolulu	Maui	Hawaii County	Kauai
Application and publication	$2,375 ($2,000 publication deposit + $375 filing)	Set by department; temporary license $200 per 120 days	$50 + $2.50 online; $200 publication deposit	$100 + $5 online; $350 publication deposit
Class 2 restaurant, general (all liquor)	$1,800 standard; $1,980 music/dancing	Basic fee 600 (dollars)	$600	$480
Class 2 restaurant, beer and wine / beer	$1,380 / $540	300 / 150	$300 / $150	$180 / $120
Class 5 dispenser, general	$1,800 standard; up to $2,640 with hostess, music and nudity categories	600	$600	$480
Class 12 hotel / Class 11 cabaret	$5,940 / $3,000	1,200 / 1,200	$1,200 / $750	$900 / $600
Gross liquor sales assessment	0.5% of gross liquor sales above a yearly deductible, capped at $25,000 (restaurant, dispenser); 0.25% capped at $15,000 (retail)	Percentage fee from the department’s annual formula, billed in October	Percentage fee billed through the eHawaii portal	Percentage fee billed through the eHawaii portal
Manager or server card	$10 per liquor card; managers and bartenders trained and tested, 4 years	Exam plus approved training; $20 card, 4 years	Department exam and card; confirm term and fee with the department	Blue card (on-premises) or red card, 86% exam score, 4 years
Liquor liability insurance	$1,000,000 for class 2, 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17 and 18 licenses, at issuance, renewal and transfer (HRS § 281-45)
Restaurant food-sales test	30% (HRS § 281-31)	30%	30%	35% (county rule)
Commission penalty per offense	Up to $5,000, or suspension or revocation (HRS § 281-91)
Hawaii LLC	$50 Articles of Organization; $15 annual report (DCCA Business Registration Division)

One Statute, Four Licensing Authorities, and a Dram Shop Rule the Courts Wrote

Most states on this site have a state liquor agency that either issues the license or approves the local one. Hawaii has neither: chapter 281 is a state statute administered entirely by county commissions, so the fee schedule, the rule book, the manager card and the hearing calendar all depend on which island the business is on, while the class definitions, the hearing and notice procedure, the neighbors’ protest veto and the insurance mandate are the same everywhere. The practical effect for an operator is that the same Class 2 general license costs three times as much in Honolulu as on Kauai, and Honolulu alone cards bartenders as well as managers and mails hearing notices to registered voters. The neighborhood veto is unusual too: in many states protests inform the decision; in Hawaii, if a majority of the owners or a majority of the voters within 500 feet object, § 281-59 says “the application shall be refused.” Site selection and neighborhood outreach are therefore licensing steps, not marketing.

Two more features set Hawaii apart. First, liquor liability insurance is a statutory condition of the license itself: § 281-45(4) forbids issuing, renewing or transferring a restaurant, dispenser, hotel, club or cabaret license without proof of $1,000,000 in coverage, so the policy is part of the application packet rather than a lender’s preference. Second, Hawaii has no dram shop statute. The liability comes from the courts: the case notes to § 281-78 record that a person injured by an intoxicated driver may recover from the tavern that served the driver in violation of the statute (Ono v. Applegate, 1980), that a patron injured by his own intoxication has no claim against the seller (1987), that minors who drank voluntarily cannot sue the supplier (1990), and that a licensee who sells to a minor owes a duty to innocent third parties injured by any intoxicated minor, subject to foreseeability (1994). The statutory prohibition on serving a person “at the time under the influence of liquor” is the standard of care, and the million-dollar policy the statute requires is what answers a claim under it.

How to Get Licensed, In Order

1. Identify your county commission and pick the class. A restaurant that will earn at least 30 percent of gross revenue from food (35% on Kauai) applies for a Class 2; a bar without that certification applies for a Class 5 dispenser. Hawaii County and Kauai start with an interview request through the eHawaii portal; Honolulu and Maui publish application packets.
2. Form the entity — Hawaii Articles of Organization are $50 with the DCCA Business Registration Division and the annual report is $15; the liquor application names every LLC member, and the commission will want a DCCA certificate of good standing.
3. Assemble the statutory qualifications: no member or 25 percent owner who is a minor or unpardoned felon, a Department of Taxation tax clearance, and a liquor liability policy of $1,000,000 ready to bind before issuance.
4. File the notarized application with the exact premises description, class and kind, personal history statements, financial statement and the application and publication fees (Honolulu $2,375; Hawaii County $50 plus a $200 deposit; Kauai $100 plus $350).
5. Pass the preliminary hearing on the investigator’s report; all parties must attend.
6. Publish and mail. The commission publishes notice in two consecutive weeks for a hearing at least 45 days after the first notice; you mail notice at least 45 days ahead to two-thirds of the owners and lessees within 500 feet (three-fourths within 100 feet), plus registered voters and small businesses in Honolulu, and file the affidavit and master list within seven business days.
7. Attend the public hearing. A majority protest from the owners or the voters within 500 feet means automatic refusal; otherwise the commission decides within 90 days, and a denial bars a new application for the premises for a year.
8. Clear inspections, pay the annual fee, and card your managers (and bartenders in Honolulu) before the first shift; a card-holding manager must be in active charge whenever you are open.

Staying Licensed

Renew before June 30 in every county. Every license expires June 30; Maui accepts renewals April 1 to June 15, Hawaii County May 15 to June 30, Kauai June 1 to June 30, each with a current tax clearance, the insurance certificate and the basic fee.

File the gross liquor sales report and pay the assessment. Honolulu’s report and additional fee are due by July 31; Maui bills its percentage fee in October, payable within 31 days, and suspends a license that has not filed and paid.

Keep the card holders on the floor. A registered or approved manager must be in active charge whenever the premises is open in all four counties; Honolulu also requires every employee in the liquor-service area of a dispenser, hotel or club to hold a current card, and submits an annual employee listing.

Keep the insurance in force. The $1,000,000 policy is checked again at every renewal and transfer under § 281-45.

Do not let the food ratio slip. A Class 2 license rests on the 30 percent food certification (35% on Kauai); Maui requires monthly restaurant reports, and a licensee that no longer qualifies must convert to a dispenser license.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is a liquor license in Hawaii?

It depends on the county. A Class 2 restaurant license for all liquor carries a basic annual fee of $1,800 in Honolulu, 600 dollars on Maui and $600 in Hawaii County, and $480 on Kauai, with beer-and-wine and beer-only kinds cheaper; a Class 5 dispenser license costs the same as a restaurant license of the same kind. Every county adds a percentage assessment on gross liquor sales, which in Honolulu is one-half of one percent above a yearly deductible, capped at $25,000. Application costs range from $50 plus a $200 publication deposit in Hawaii County to $2,375 in Honolulu, and every restaurant or bar must also carry $1,000,000 in liquor liability insurance under HRS § 281-45.

Who issues liquor licenses in Hawaii?

The county liquor commissions. HRS § 281-11 creates a commission for each county, and § 281-17 gives it the power to grant, refuse and revoke licenses, set fees and terms, and regulate employees. The Honolulu Liquor Commission serves Oahu; the Maui Department of Liquor Control serves Maui, Molokai and Lanai; the Hawaii County Department of Liquor Control serves the Big Island from Hilo and Kailua-Kona; and the Kauai Department of Liquor Control serves Kauai. There is no state liquor agency.

How long does it take to get a liquor license in Hawaii?

At least the statutory notice period, and in practice several months. Under HRS § 281-57 the public hearing must be set not less than 45 days after the first published notice, and the applicant must mail notices to owners within 500 feet at least 45 days before the hearing; the commission then has 90 days to decide, extendable to 120. Hawaii County and Kauai tell applicants the process may take up to three months or more, and Honolulu requires a preliminary hearing before the public hearing is scheduled.

Do bartenders need a license in Hawaii?

In Honolulu, yes. Under Honolulu Liquor Commission Rule § 3-82-38.5 bartenders and managers at restaurants, and every employee in the liquor-service area of a dispenser, hotel, club or brewpub, must hold a Commission certificate of registration (liquor card); managers and bartenders must first complete the Commission’s server training program and pass its exam, and the card lasts four years and costs $10. Maui, Hawaii County and Kauai card the manager rather than every server: Maui requires an employee approved by the director, who has passed the department exam and attended approved training, in active charge at all times; Kauai requires a blue-card manager who scored at least 86 percent on its exam; Hawaii County runs its own exam and card.

What is the difference between a restaurant license and a dispenser license in Hawaii?

Food. Under HRS § 281-31 an applicant for a Class 2 restaurant license must certify that no less than thirty per cent of the establishment’s gross revenue will come from the sale of food (Kauai’s rule sets 35%); a Class 5 dispenser license has no food requirement and comes in standard, music and dancing, hostess and nudity categories. Both sell liquor for consumption on the premises in general, beer-and-wine or beer kinds, both pay the same basic fee in each county, and a dispenser that meets the food test may convert to a restaurant license at one hearing without new notice.

Can neighbors block a liquor license in Hawaii?

Yes. Under HRS § 281-59, if a majority of the registered voters within 500 feet of the premises, or a majority of the owners and lessees of record of real estate within 500 feet, file protests against the application, the commission must refuse it; each property counts once. Under § 281-58 any person may protest, and under § 281-60 an applicant who is denied may not reapply for the same premises for one year, and the next applicant for that location must show a substantial change in circumstances.

Is liquor liability insurance required in Hawaii?

Yes, by statute. HRS § 281-45 provides that no class 2, 4 (except convenience minimarts), 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17 or 18 license may be issued, renewed or transferred unless the applicant, or both transferor and transferee, present proof of liquor liability insurance coverage in an amount of $1,000,000. Hawaii has no dram shop statute; the Hawaii Supreme Court has allowed a person injured by an intoxicated driver to recover from the tavern that served the driver in violation of § 281-78, while barring claims by the intoxicated patron and by minors who drank voluntarily.

What does a Hawaii LLC cost?

The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Business Registration Division charges $50.00 to file Articles of Organization for a Limited Liability Company (Form LLC-1), with $25.00 more for expedited service, and $15.00 for the annual report on its fee schedule. Filing is online through Hawaii Business Express or by mail, email or fax.

Forming the company, taxes, insurance, and hiring are covered in our full guide to starting a business in Hawaii.

Sources

Source	What It Covers
HRS § 281-11 — County liquor commissions and liquor control adjudication boards	A liquor commission or liquor control adjudication board, consisting of not less than five members, may be created for each of the counties; the elected executive head of each county may nominate, and by and with the advice and consent of the legislative body of the county, shall appoint the members
HRS § 281-17 — Jurisdiction and powers of the liquor commission	The commission has power to prescribe, by rule, the terms, conditions, and circumstances under which persons or any class of persons may be employed by holders of licenses; to prescribe, by rule, the term of any license, the annual or prorated amount, the manner of payment of fees for the licenses and permits, and the amount of filing fees
HRS § 281-17.5 — Fees; justified, method of change, limitation	Any liquor license fee sought to be implemented by any commission shall have, as its justification, a direct and proportionate relationship to costs and expenses of the commission in its control, supervision, or regulation of the manufacture, importation, and sale of liquors; any increase in the fee structure shall only be initiated by the liquor commission with the approval of the county’s legislative body and mayor; any funds in excess of twenty per cent of the commission’s current budget shall be returned or credited annually to existing licensees
HRS § 281-31 — Licenses, classes	Class 2 restaurant license authorizes the licensee to sell liquor for consumption on the premises and, with commission approval, to provide off-premises catering directly related to the restaurant operation; categories are a standard bar or premises in which live entertainment or recorded music is provided; kinds are general (includes all liquor except alcohol), beer and wine, and beer; an application for a new class 2 license shall include a certification by the applicant that the applicant intends to and shall derive no less than thirty per cent of the establishment’s gross revenue from the sale of foods; the commission may approve at one public hearing and without notice the change to a class 2 restaurant license of a licensee holding a class 5 dispenser license who meets the requirements; Class 5 dispenser license authorizes sales for consumption on the premises in the categories of a standard bar, premises with unclothed entertainment, premises with live entertainment or recorded music, and premises in which employees or entertainers are compensated to sit with patrons; Class 11 cabaret license is issued only for premises where food is served, facilities for dancing including a dance floor are provided, and live or amplified recorded music or professional entertainment is provided; Class 12 hotel license authorizes entertainment and dancing and the sale of all liquor except alcohol for consumption on the premises
HRS § 281-45 — No license issued, when	No license shall be issued to any minor or to any person who has been convicted of a felony and not pardoned, or to a limited liability company whose member holding twenty-five per cent or more interest would be disqualified; unless the applicant, or in the case of a transfer both the transferor and the transferee, present a tax clearance certificate from the department of taxation; to an applicant for a class 2, class 4 except for convenience minimarts, class 5, class 6, class 11, class 12, class 13, class 14, class 15, class 17, or class 18 license unless the applicant for issuance or renewal, or both transferor and transferee, present proof of liquor liability insurance coverage in an amount of $1,000,000; or to any applicant who has had any liquor license revoked less than two years previous
HRS § 281-52 — Public hearing	No license shall be granted except after a public hearing by the liquor commission upon notice as prescribed in this chapter; sections 281-57 to 281-60 shall not apply to the holder of a restaurant general license, a wholesale general license, a retail general license, or a dispenser’s general license who applies for a different kind of license within the class of the holder’s existing license on the same premises
HRS § 281-53 — Application; penalty for false statements	Every application for a license, the renewal of a license, or the transfer of a license shall be in writing, signed, and, except for the renewal of a license, notarized, and shall set forth the full name, age, and place of residence of the applicant; if a limited liability company, its full name and the names of all its members; if a corporation, the names of its officers and directors and of all stockholders owning twenty-five per cent or more of the outstanding capital stock; a particular description of the place or premises; and the class and kind of license applied for; a knowingly false statement is a misdemeanor
HRS § 281-57 — Preliminary hearing; notice of public hearing	Upon the filing of the investigator’s report the liquor commission may hold a preliminary hearing and may deny the application; otherwise the commission shall fix a day for the public hearing and give public notice at least once in each of two consecutive weeks, the date of the hearing to be not less than forty-five days after the first notice, collecting from the applicant the cost of giving the public notice; the applicant shall mail a notice of the hearing to not less than two-thirds of the owners and lessees of record of real estate and owners of record of shares in a cooperative apartment situated within a distance of five hundred feet from the nearest point of the premises, and to not less than three-fourths of those within one hundred feet; in counties with a population of five hundred thousand or more, to not less than two-thirds of the registered voters residing within, and small businesses situated within, five hundred feet, which paragraph shall not apply to applications for class 2, class 4, class 12, and class 15 licenses; the notices shall be mailed at least forty-five days prior to the hearing; within seven business days of mailing the applicant shall file an affidavit, a master list of one hundred per cent of addressees, and the mailing list
HRS § 281-58 — Protests	Protests against the granting of a license may be filed by any person; protests which qualify for an automatic refusal pursuant to section 281-59 may be filed by any registered voter for the area within five hundred feet of the nearest point at which the applicant proposes to establish the business, or by any owner or lessee of record of real estate or owner of record of a share in a cooperative apartment situated within a distance of five hundred feet
HRS § 281-59 — Hearing; rehearing	Within ninety days after the hearing, or within one hundred twenty days if the commission extends the period and gives public notice, the commission shall give its decision granting or refusing the application; provided that if a majority of the registered voters for the area within five hundred feet of the nearest point of the premises, or a majority of the owners and lessees of record of real estate and owners of record of shares in a cooperative apartment within five hundred feet, have duly filed their protests against the granting of the license, the application shall be refused; otherwise the commission may in its discretion grant or refuse the same; each property counts only once
HRS § 281-60 — Further application	If an applicant has at any time been denied or refused a license, no further application from the applicant pertaining to the same premises or building location shall be considered for one year from the denial or refusal; the next application from any applicant for that premises shall include a report evidencing a substantial change in the circumstances that caused the previous denial, refusal, or withdrawal
HRS § 281-78 — Prohibitions (with case notes)	At no time under any circumstances shall any licensee or its employee sell, serve, or furnish any liquor to, or allow the consumption of any liquor by any minor, any person at the time under the influence of liquor, or any person known to the licensee to be addicted to the excessive use of intoxicating liquor; the sale to a minor shall not be a violation if the licensee was misled by the appearance of the minor and acted in good faith, and it shall be incumbent upon the licensee to prove that the licensee so acted in good faith; no licensee shall permit liquor to be sold or served by any person eighteen to twenty years of age except in licensed establishments where selling or serving is part of the minor’s employment and there is proper supervision; case notes: person injured by intoxicated driver may recover from tavern that supplied liquor to the driver in violation of this section, 62 H. 131, 612 P.2d 533 (1980); liquor consumer injured because of intoxication does not have cause of action against liquor seller, 69 H. 95, 735 P.2d 930 (1987); minors voluntarily consuming alcohol are precluded from suing the commercial liquor supplier, 71 H. 524, 797 P.2d 51 (1990); this section imposes a duty to innocent third parties upon a liquor licensee who sells alcohol to a minor, subject to reasonable foreseeability, 76 H. 137, 870 P.2d 1281 (1994)
HRS § 281-91 — Revocation or suspension of license; hearing	The liquor commission or liquor control adjudication board may revoke any license, or suspend the right of the licensee to use the license, or assess and collect a penalty, or reprimand the licensee, for the violation of any condition of the license or of any provisions of this chapter or of any rule; the licensee shall be entitled to notice and hearing, the notice to be given at least five days before the hearing; the amount of penalty assessed and collected from any licensee for any particular offense shall not exceed the sum of $5,000
HRS § 281-101 — Unlicensed manufacture or sale of liquor; penalty	If any person sells any liquor, either directly or indirectly, except as authorized pursuant to this chapter, the person shall be guilty of a class C felony
Honolulu Liquor Commission — Apply for a Liquor License	The Honolulu Liquor Commission processes and issues all liquor licenses and permits for the City and County of Honolulu; classifications include Manufacturer, Restaurant, Wholesale, Retail, Dispenser, Club, Transient Vessel, Tour/Cruise Vessel, Special, Cabaret, Hotel, Caterer, Brewpub, Condominium/Hotel, Winery, Bring Your Own Beverage (BYOB), and Small Craft Producer Pub; kinds are General (includes all liquor, excluding alcohol), Beer and Wine, Beer, Wine, Liquor, and Alcohol; for Restaurant, Dispenser, and Cabaret classifications a category defines the activities: standard bar, music, and/or dancing (clothed or unclothed), and for a Dispenser class license a hostess category; the licensing process is submission of application, review of application and proposed licensed premise, investigative process and compliance, preliminary hearing, public hearing, conditions of licensing, issuance of license; office at 711 Kapiolani Blvd, Ste. 600
Honolulu Liquor Commission — Licensing Application Overview, January 18, 2024 (PDF)	New Application total $2,375.00 ($2000.00 publication / $375.00 filing fee); the $375.00 application fee is non-refundable; required documents include DCCA Certificate of Good Standing (not over 60 days old), DCCA Certificate of Trade Name, financial statement, verification of funds, and a copy of liquor liability insurance coverage in an amount of $1,000,000 for class 2, class 4 except for convenience minimarts, class 5, class 6, class 11, class 12, class 13, class 14, class 15, class 17, or class 18 licenses
Honolulu Liquor Commission — Liquor license fees effective 3/24/18, revised 11/29/2021 (PDF)	Restaurant General Standard $1,800.00; Restaurant General Music/Dancing $1,980.00; Restaurant Beer & Wine Standard $1,380.00; Restaurant Beer Only Standard $540.00; Dispenser General Standard $1,800.00; Dispenser General Nudity/Music/Dancing/Hostess $2,640.00; Dispenser Beer & Wine Standard $1,380.00; Dispenser Beer Only Standard $540.00; Hotel General $5,940.00; Cabaret General Standard $3,000.00; Retail General $1,800.00; Retail Beer & Wine $1,380.00; Wholesale General $3,960.00
Honolulu Liquor Commission — Rules of the Liquor Commission, City and County of Honolulu (PDF): § 3-81-17.51 license fees; § 3-82-38.5 registration of employees; § 3-82-38.9 licensee and manager in charge	In addition to the basic license fee, an additional license fee will be assessed on the net of the gross liquor sales less a deductible; Restaurant General Category 1 Standard $1,800, and one-half of one percent (0.005) of the total gross liquor sales less a deductible, not to exceed $25,000; Dispenser General Category 1 Standard $1,800, and one-half of one percent (0.005) of the total gross liquor sales less a deductible, not to exceed $25,000; Retail General $1,800, and one-quarter of one percent (0.0025) of the total gross liquor sales less a deductible, not to exceed $15,000; all dispenser, cabaret, hotel, club, brewpub, condominium hotel, winery, bring-your-own-beverage, or small craft producer pub licensees shall employ only persons in that section of the licensed premises where liquor is sold, served or consumed who are registered with the Commission prior to the start of employment; for restaurant and class 13(b) caterer licensees, only managers and bartenders are required to be registered; licensees shall employ only bartenders who have successfully completed the server-training program administered by the Commission, including an examination and instruction in identifying and dealing with intoxicated persons, reviewing liquor laws and rules, and dangers of driving while intoxicated; certificates of registration for bartenders or managers shall be valid for four (4) years from the date of successful completion of the server training program; each dispenser, cabaret, restaurant, club, hotel, brewpub and similar licensee shall have a duly registered manager in active charge of the licensed premises during the time the establishment is open for business; a person shall successfully complete the server-training program and pass the examination before that person can be registered as a manager
Honolulu Liquor Commission — Register for a Liquor Card (Certificate of Registration)	You must be employed at a liquor-licensed premises to get a liquor card; certificates of registration for employees, except for dancers, bartenders or managers, shall be valid for four (4) years from the date of issue; for bartenders or managers, four (4) years from the date of successful completion of the server training program; $10 processing fee per liquor card; managers and bartenders must also successfully complete Server Training, pass the test, and bring the email confirming they passed; for class 2 (Restaurant) liquor licenses only managers, bartenders, and dancers need liquor cards to work; Blue Card manager or assistant manager on-premises, Purple Card manager off-premises retail, Yellow Card bartender, Gray Card general staff or host, Green Card dancer, Red Card minor employee 18-20 years of age
Honolulu Liquor Commission — Instructions to file a Gross Liquor Sales report (PDF)	In addition to the basic license fee, an additional license fee is assessed on the gross liquor sales; the additional license fee is calculated on the net of the GLS less a deductible (threshold) and is assessed when the GLS exceeds the deductible; the annual GLS report shall be complete and filed with the additional license fee, if applicable, no sooner than July 1 nor later than July 31 of each year; at least thirty (30) percent of the establishment’s gross revenue must come from the sales of foods
County of Maui Department of Liquor Control — Rules of the Liquor Commission, Chapter 101 (revised June 2026, PDF): § 08-101-33 renewal; § 08-101-34 term; § 08-101-40 fees; § 08-101-70 employee approved by the director	All applications for renewal of a liquor license must be accepted by the department from the 1st day of April through 4:00 p.m. on the 15th day of June; every license shall expire with the close of June 30 next succeeding its issuance; all licenses not exercised within one hundred eighty days of approval shall become void; all licensees shall pay an annual license fee, which shall be the basic fee plus the percentage fee; basic fee paid not later than each June 15th: Restaurant General 600, Beer and Wine 300, Beer 150; Dispenser General 600, Beer and Wine 300, Beer 150; Cabaret 1,200; Hotel 1,200; Condominium Hotel 1,200; Caterer 600; the fee for a temporary license of any class and kind shall be $200 for an initial period of one hundred twenty (120) days; the fee for the certification examination or a certificate for registration of employee approved by the director shall be $10 plus postage and handling; the percentage fee for each fiscal year shall be based upon the formula EE – BF – C divided by EGS (estimated expenditures less basic fees and carryover, divided by estimated gross sales) applied to the gross sales of each licensee, assessed and paid within thirty-one calendar days of receipt; on every licensed premises, an on-duty employee duly approved by the director must be in active charge of each premises during all times that such premises is open for business; employee approved by the director means a managerial or supervisory employee or the holder of the license who is twenty-one years of age or older, has successfully completed an examination administered by the department on liquor laws and rules of the commission, attended a server training program approved by the department and issued a certificate by the department; the certificate shall be valid for a term of four years from date of issue and must be renewed by re-examination; a restaurant must derive at least thirty percent of the establishment’s gross revenue from the sale of foods
County of Maui Department of Liquor Control — Certification Exam (Employee Approved by the Director Certification Card)	Maui County liquor rules require that at least one approved employee must be in charge at all times when a licensed establishment is open for business, under Liquor Regulation §08-101-70; to qualify an employee must be 21 years of age or older, pass the Department’s Liquor Laws and Rules exam, and obtain an Employee Approved by the Director Certification Card; certification cards are valid for four (4) years from the date the exam is passed and must be renewed by passing the exam again; to obtain your card visit the Kahului Service Center with the same photo ID and $20.00 payment
County of Maui Department of Liquor Control — Annual Percentage Fee	Licensees are required to pay the Annual Percentage Fee, assessed for the previous fiscal year; assessments are usually distributed in October; a liquor license can only be exercised once the Gross Liquor Sales Report has been filed and the fee paid; failure to do so will result in a suspension of your license; licensees are responsible for paying the fee within thirty-one calendar days of receipt of the assessment; licensees in Class 2 Restaurant, Class 4 Retail, Class 5 Dispenser, Class 6 Club, Class 9, Class 12 Hotel and Class 15 Condominium Hotel are subject to the fee; a five percent monthly late charge applies to the balance due
County of Maui Department of Liquor Control — Server Training Videos	The County of Maui Department of Liquor Control presents server training videos produced in partnership with the State of Hawaii, the County of Hawaii, the City & County of Honolulu, and the County of Kauai; the videos are intended to assist liquor licensees in training their employees, for new-hire orientation and refresher training; an off-premise video for licensees such as a grocery store and an on-premise video for licensees such as a restaurant
County of Hawaii Department of Liquor Control — Liquor Licenses and Permits (eHawaii portal): how do I get a liquor license, what is the cost, renewal	The process of obtaining a liquor license is highly regulated and may take up to three months or more; submit a liquor license application to request an interview; the application fee is $50 plus an online service fee of $2.50, both non-refundable; a licensing officer will schedule an interview, provide a checklist of documents, and write a report for the Liquor Commission at a preliminary hearing, which all parties must attend; before the public hearing you will be required to mail notices to property owners of record within 500 feet of the business premises and schedule inspections with multiple agencies; at the public hearing the Liquor Commission will hear testimony for or against your application; after passing final inspection pay the annual license fee, which can range from $150.00 to $1,200.00 depending on the class of license; be prepared to remit a $200.00 publication deposit on the day of your interview; fee table: Class 2 Restaurant beer $150.00, beer and wine $300.00, general $600.00; Class 5 Dispenser $150.00, $300.00, $600.00; Class 4 Retail Dealer $260.00, $560.00; Class 11 Cabaret $750.00; Class 12 Hotel $1,200.00; Class 13 Caterer $600.00; liquor licenses expire on June 30 and must be renewed annually, renewal period May 15 to June 30; renewal requires a current Hawaii State Tax Clearance or Hawaii Compliance Express certificate, a copy of your current DCCA Annual Report, and proof of liquor liability insurance of not less than one million dollars
County of Kauai Department of Liquor Control — Liquor Licenses and Permits (eHawaii portal): how do I get a liquor license, what is the cost, restaurant vs dispenser, renewal	The process may take up to three months or more; the application fee is $100.00 plus an online service fee of $5.00, both non-refundable; an interview is scheduled by the licensing officer, then a preliminary hearing, then mailing notices to property owners of record within 500 feet, inspections, and a public hearing; the annual license fee can range from $180.00 to $1,200.00 depending on the class; be prepared to remit a $350.00 publication deposit on the day of your interview; fee table: Restaurant beer $120.00, beer and wine $180.00, general $480.00; Dispenser $120.00, $180.00, $480.00; Retail Dealer $180.00, $480.00; Cabaret $600.00; Hotel $900.00; a Restaurant must have suitable kitchen facilities and must derive at least 35% of the establishment’s gross revenue from food sales, may sell growlers and may provide off-premise catering, while dispensers may not; liquor licenses expire on June 30 and must be renewed annually, renewal period June 1 to June 30; renewal requires a State Tax Clearance, proof of liquor liability insurance of not less than one million dollars, and a notarized application under HRS 281-53
County of Kauai — Rules and Regulations of the Liquor Commission (2022, PDF): definitions of blue card and red card; Rule 7.8 manager on duty; Rule 10.2	Blue card means a card issued by the department to a person 21 years of age or older who has scored at least 86% on a written exam administered by the department for an on-premises establishment; red card means the same card for an off-premises establishment; a person who is not less than twenty-one years of age must be in active charge of any on premises establishment during the time the establishment is open for business and licensed to sell or serve liquor; to become eligible for approval as a manager, the applicant shall take a test covering all applicable laws relating to liquor and the rules and regulations of the commission and receive a score of eighty-six percent (86%) or more correct, and shall be issued a blue card valid for a period of four years from the date of issuance; licensees must maintain liquor liability insurance coverage in the amount of $1,000,000
County of Kauai Department of Liquor Control — Liquor Commission study guide for the manager red/blue card test (PDF)	The study guide will help prepare you for the required Kauai Department of Liquor Control Manager Red/Blue Card Test; there are two types of manager’s cards, blue for manager and assistant manager on-premise and red for off-premise; an on-premises licensee must have a registered manager in active charge of the licensed premises whenever there are non-employees in the premises; managers must be at least 21 years of age; anyone involved in liquor sales must be at least 18 years old and properly supervised by a red or blue card manager who is in active charge; hours of operation: dispenser, club, restaurant, brewpub from 6:00am to 2:00am the following day; cabaret and hotel from 6:00am to 4:00am; retail from 6:00am to 11:00pm; licensed liquor establishments are required to maintain liquor liability insurance coverage in the amount of $1,000,000
County of Hawaii Department of Liquor Control — department home page (blocks automated retrieval; East Hawaii office Hilo, West Hawaii office Kailua-Kona)	Department of Liquor Control, County of Hawaii: rules and regulations of the Liquor Commission, licensee rule book, training and classes, liquor exam schedules, server training videos
Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division — Domestic Limited Liability Company	To register a Domestic Limited Liability Company in Hawaii, you must file the Articles of Organization for Limited Liability Company (Form LLC-1) with the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division; the fee for filing Articles of Organization for a Domestic Limited Liability Company is $50.00, with an additional fee of $25.00 for expedited service
Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division — Domestic Limited Liability Company fees	Articles of Organization $50, expedited review $25; Annual Report $15