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HRS §431:8-201

Insurance companies need a license to do business in Hawaii

An insurance company cannot sell insurance in Hawaii without a state license. There are some exceptions, like surplus lines, reinsurance, and certain out-of-state policies. This section lists those exceptions.

The statute, as written — Transacting insurance business without certificate of authority prohibited

It shall be unlawful for any insurer to transact an insurance business in this State, as defined in section 431:1-215, without a certificate of authority; provided that this section shall not apply to: (1) The lawful transaction of surplus lines insurance; (2) The lawful transaction of reinsurance by insurers; (3) Transactions in this State involving a policy lawfully solicited, written, and delivered outside of this State covering only subjects of insurance not resident, located, or expressly to be performed in this State at the time of issuance, and subsequent to the issuance of the policy; (4) Attorneys acting in the ordinary relation of attorney and client in the adjustment of claims or losses; (5) Transactions in this State involving group life and group accident and health or sickness or blanket accident and health or sickness insurance or group annuities where the master policy of the groups was lawfully issued in and delivered pursuant to the laws of a state in which the insurer was authorized to do an insurance business; provided that this paragraph shall not apply to transactions of association health plans; (6) Transactions in this State involving any policy of insurance or annuity contract issued prior to July 1, 1988; (7) Transactions in this State involving ocean marine insurance; and (8) Transactions of contracts of insurance for property and casualty multi-state risks; provided that the producer is licensed to sell, solicit, or negotiate that insurance in the home state of the insured.
Read the official text at capitol.hawaii.gov ↗as published Jan 6, 2026our copy taken Aug 20, 2026

Sections this one refers to

§431:1-215 What counts as doing insurance business in Hawaii

LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.