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HRS §448E-9

Unlicensed electrician or plumber work

This law says you cannot work as an electrician or plumber without a license, and you cannot advertise yourself as one. There is an exception for emergency plumbing repairs in your own home, but not for sewer, drain, gas lines, or certain fixtures. Apprentices can work without a license if supervised.

everyone

The statute, as written — Unlicensed activity

(a) No person shall act or assume to act as a journey worker electrician, journey worker specialty electrician, supervising electrician, supervising specialty electrician, journey worker plumber, master plumber, maintenance electrician, journey worker industrial electrician, or supervising industrial electrician, or advertise or hold the person's self out as an electrician or plumber, without a license previously obtained in compliance with this chapter and the rules of the board; provided that any person may perform emergency plumbing repair work in the person's principal place of residence when such repairs do not involve or require rearrangement of valves, pipes, or fixtures; provided further that no such emergency repairs may be performed on sewer lines, drains, gas lines, and on fixtures being served with backflow devices which include heaters, water closets, dishwashers, and garbage disposal units. For purposes of this subsection: "Electrician" means any person who performs electrical work and includes but is not limited to any person who acts as a journey worker electrician, journey worker specialty electrician, supervising electrician, supervising specialty electrician, maintenance electrician, journey worker industrial electrician, or supervising industrial electrician. "Plumber" means any person who performs plumbing work and includes but is not limited to any person who acts as a journey worker plumber or master plumber. (b) An apprentice or trainee learning the trade of a person licensed under this chapter shall not be required to have a license if the apprentice or trainee acts under the supervision of a person appropriately licensed under this chapter. (c) Upon entry of a judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction finding that the person has advertised in violation of this section, the entity furnishing voice communication service to the violator shall disconnect the telephone number contained in the advertisement or listing.
Read the official text at capitol.hawaii.gov ↗as published Jan 6, 2026our copy taken Aug 20, 2026

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