Health Care Power of Attorney Requirements in Hawaii

In Hawaii, a power of attorney for health care must be signed by two witnesses or acknowledged before a notary public in Hawaii.

Last checked October 2026. General information, not legal advice.

Document name: Power of attorney for health care
Witnesses: 2 witnesses or a notary
Notary required: Notary or 2 witnesses; A notary acknowledgment in Hawaii can replace the two witnesses.
Who cannot witness: Agent, health care providers and their employees; At least one witness cannot be a relative by blood, marriage or adoption or an heir.

Sources

Haw. Rev. Stat. 327E-3 (Hawaii State Legislature)

Last checked October 2026

The rules in Hawaii

What is a health care power of attorney called in Hawaii?

Document name in Hawaii: Power of attorney for health care.

How many witnesses does a health care power of attorney need in Hawaii?

Witnesses in Hawaii: 2 witnesses or a notary.

Does a health care power of attorney have to be notarized in Hawaii?

Notary or 2 witnesses. Notary required in Hawaii: notary or 2 witnesses. A notary acknowledgment in Hawaii can replace the two witnesses.

Who cannot witness a health care power of attorney in Hawaii?

Who cannot witness in Hawaii: Agent, health care providers and their employees. At least one witness cannot be a relative by blood, marriage or adoption or an heir.

Where do the Hawaii health care power of attorney requirements come from?

The rules above come from Haw. Rev. Stat. 327E-3. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

What this means in practice

Follow the signing rules of the state where you live when you sign. If you spend a lot of time in another state, check whether that state honors documents signed elsewhere, and consider signing a version that also meets its rules.

Choose witnesses before the signing day. Witness rules often exclude the agent you are naming and may also exclude relatives, people who would inherit from you, or staff of a health care provider or facility caring for you. Using two unrelated adults avoids most problems.

Give copies of the signed document to your agent, any alternate agent and your doctors, and keep the original where it can be found quickly. If you later change your mind, revoke the old document in writing and tell everyone who has a copy.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.