All Hawaii business entity information, including entity name, type, number, and formation date, is available through the DCCA Business Registration Division (BREG) online search. As of July 6, 2026, that search lives on BREG's new online portal, which replaced the legacy Hawaii Business Express (HBE) platform.

The migration happened fast: the legacy HBE system shut down on July 2, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. HST, and the new portal launched on July 6, 2026 at 12:01 a.m. HST. According to DCCA's new portal FAQs, all services previously offered through HBE carried over, existing usernames and passwords still work, and filing fees and payment methods are unchanged. The new portal also accepts some forms online that HBE never did.

This free online database provides immediate access to the details you need for onboarding, compliance checks, or business transactions.

Summary table: finding your Hawaii entity information

Hawaii displays the four core entity data points in predictable places, summarized in the table below.

How to search for Hawaii business entities

Any registered Hawaii business can be looked up by name through BREG's online search, now hosted on the new portal at hbe.dcca.hawaii.gov. The legacy HBE page at hbe.ehawaii.gov now redirects users to the new portal.

On the legacy HBE interface, the search offered a Search Mode dropdown with two filter options, "Begins with…" and "Contains…", a text input labeled "Business Name," and a "Search" button with links for "Agent Search" and "Entity List Builder." The search page itself does not reference a CAPTCHA; a reCAPTCHA check appears on the DCCA BREG registration page used for filings, not for searches. Interface labels and filters on the new portal have not yet been independently confirmed, so verify them when you run your first search there.

Enter your search criteria and click "Search." Results appear in a table, and clicking through to a specific entity record displays fields including the master name, business type, file number, status, and registration date. While Hawaii's system supports partial matches through the "Contains" filter, using your complete legal name as registered narrows results. For registered agent lookups, the legacy platform provides a dedicated agent search tool that builds a list of Hawaii businesses represented by a given registered agent; confirm its location on the new portal before relying on the old URL.

Click on the entity name in the results to view complete details, including your file number, formation date, principal office address, Hawaii registered agent services information, and filing history.

For broader searches, use the "Contains" filter to find entities that include your search term anywhere in their name. The "Begins with" filter is more restrictive, finding only entities whose names start with your search term.

What you'll see in search results

Official HBE entity records display these exact field labels, verified against a live HBE entity record:

• MASTER NAME (the legal entity name with exact spelling and punctuation)

• BUSINESS TYPE (e.g., Domestic Profit Corporation, Domestic Limited Liability Company)

• FILE NUMBER (Hawaii's unique identifier, combining a numeric value and a two-character suffix)

• REGISTRATION DATE (the formation or registration date)

• STATUS (Active, Dissolved, Inv. Dissolved, Terminated, Adm. Terminated, Withdrawn, Revoked, Cancelled, Converted, or Merged)

• ORGANIZED IN (the jurisdiction of formation; this is the official label, not "Place Incorporated")

• AGENT NAME and AGENT ADDRESS

• PRINCIPAL ADDRESS, MAILING ADDRESS, TERM, and MANAGED BY

The downloadable entity record PDF adds a PURPOSE field to the list above.

How to find your entity number in Hawaii

Your Hawaii entity number, officially called your "File Number," is a composite identifier assigned by the DCCA Business Registration Division when your entity was formed. It combines a numeric File Number with a two-character File Suffix that encodes entity type and domestic or foreign status, displayed together as a single identifier (for example, 208048 D1).

Where to locate your Hawaii entity number

Hawaii surfaces your file number in three places, starting with the fastest option.

1. Hawaii business search (fastest method)
   
   
   

   • Located: Prominently displayed in the search results and entity detail view

   • Labeled as: "FILE NUMBER" (entity record pages also show a separate "FILE Suffix" field)

   • Format: Numeric value plus two-character suffix, such as 208048 D1

2. Certificate of Formation/Organization/Incorporation
   
   
   

   • Usually at the top of the document

   • May be labeled as "File Number"

3. Hawaii annual report filings and state correspondence
   
   
   

   • Appears in the "FILE NO." field in annual report form headers

   • Used as your account identifier for ongoing filings

   • Referenced in BREG portal account management

Hawaii entity number format

The File Number displayed in Hawaii's system combines two components into a single identifier:

• File Number: A numeric value assigned to the company

• File Suffix: A two-character alphanumeric code encoding entity class and domestic/foreign status

• Display format: Combined in the system as a single identifier (e.g., 208048 D1)

• Suffix examples: D1 indicates a Domestic Profit Corporation, C5 indicates a Domestic LLC, L5 indicates a Domestic Limited Partnership

The File Suffix encodes entity type and domestic or foreign status simultaneously. BREG does not publish a single master reference table of suffix codes, but each code can be confirmed from official DCCA form titles and HBE business records. A full reference table appears in the entity type section below.

How to find your entity type in Hawaii

Hawaii recognizes multiple business entity types through the DCCA Business Registration Division, listed exactly as shown in your business search results and formation documents. According to the DCCA registration portal, BREG handles registrations for corporations, partnerships, LLCs, and LLPs, along with trade names, trademarks, service marks, and publicity name rights.

The DCCA entity types page maps each category to its governing statute: profit corporations under HRS Chapter 414, nonprofit corporations under HRS Chapter 414D, professional corporations under Chapter 415A, corporations sole under Chapter 419, LLCs under HRS Chapter 428, general partnerships and LLPs under Chapter 425, limited partnerships and LLLPs under Chapter 425E, and cooperatives under Chapters 421, 421C, 421H, and 421I.

Note that Hawaii does not recognize or register Professional Limited Liability Companies (PLLCs) as a distinct entity type. HRS Chapter 428 contains no provision using the term "professional limited liability company," and BREG's LLC registration pages list only standard LLC-1 and FLLC-1 forms with no separate PLLC category. HRS section 428-101 instead defines "business" to include "every trade, occupation, profession, and other lawful purpose."

A licensed professional who wants limited liability in Hawaii can form a Professional Corporation under HRS Chapter 415A (suffix code P1), a Limited Liability Partnership under Chapter 425 (suffix codes K5 domestic or K6 foreign), a Limited Liability Limited Partnership under Chapter 425E (Q5 domestic or Q6 foreign), or a standard LLC (C5/C6) if the applicable licensing law permits it.

Where to find your Hawaii entity type

Hawaii's business search confirms entity type fastest, with your formation documents and annual reports as backup sources.

1. Hawaii business search (most accessible)
   
   
   

   • Displayed: Prominently in entity details under "BUSINESS TYPE"

   • Listed as: "Domestic Limited Liability Company," "Domestic Profit Corporation," "Foreign Limited Liability Company," etc.

   • Always matches official DCCA classification

2. Certificate of Formation/Organization/Incorporation
   
   
   

   • At the top of your formation document

   • May state "Articles of Organization of Limited Liability Company" or similar

   • Uses formal legal language matching Hawaii statutes

3. Annual reports
   
   
   

   • Listed in the entity information section

   • Cannot be changed without a formal conversion filing (not an amendment)

   • Used for compliance tracking and fee calculation

Common Hawaii entity type suffix codes

The following suffix codes are each confirmed by official Hawaii state sources, either entity-specific DCCA form titles or HBE business records that pair the suffix with the spelled-out business type. Because BREG publishes no standalone master list, treat this as a working reference and confirm the suffix shown on your own entity's record.

How to find your formation date in Hawaii

Your formation date (when the DCCA officially filed and approved your business entity) appears in Hawaii business search results and on your Certificate of Formation/Organization.

Where your Hawaii formation date appears

Hawaii's business search shows your formation date fastest, with your certificate and annual report history as backups.

1. Hawaii business search (easiest access)
   
   
   

   • Listed as: "REGISTRATION DATE"

   • Location: Displayed in the entity detail view (for example, "Apr 30, 2004")

   • Always shows the official filing date with DCCA

2. Certificate of Formation/Organization/Incorporation
   
   
   

   • Top of the document

   • May say "Filed on [date]"

   • Sometimes includes both the filing date and effective date information

3. Annual report confirmations
   
   
   

   • References original filing date

   • Used to calculate annual report due dates

   • Maintained in the BREG portal filing history

Formation date vs. effective date for Hawaii entities

For Hawaii entity formations, the formation date and the effective date are the same. The DCCA confirms this on its DCCA domestic LLC page, which states: "Date of registration will be the date the Articles of Organization is filed in compliance with the Uniform Limited Liability Company Act (Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 428)."

The statutes back this up at the subsection level. HRS section 414-14(a) makes a corporate document "effective at the time of filing on the date it is filed," and HRS section 428-206(c) applies the same default rule to LLC records.

Hawaii law does permit a delayed effective date of up to 30 days after filing, but only for specific post-formation documents. HRS §414-14(b) allows it for corporate articles of dissolution, articles of conversion, and articles of merger or share exchange; HRS §428-206(d) allows it for LLC articles of termination, articles of conversion, and articles of merger.

Under §428-206(e), a specified date later than the thirtieth day simply makes the record effective on day 30. Note the terminology difference: Chapter 414 uses "articles of dissolution" for corporations winding up, while Chapter 428 uses "articles of termination" for LLCs. DCCA Form X-10 (Articles of Conversion, rev. 11-2025) confirms the rule in practice: "The conversion is effective on the date and time of filing the Articles of Conversion or at a later date and time, no more than 30 days after the filing, if so stated."

The table below summarizes which document types allow a delayed effective date and which take effect immediately upon filing.

This distinction matters most for transaction timing in fund formations, M&A closings, and investment transactions. For entity formation documents, the formation date and effective date will be the same. For post-formation documents such as conversions and mergers, parties can specify a delayed effective date of up to 30 days after filing if timing coordination is required.

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Frequently asked questions about Hawaii business entity search

Is the Hawaii business entity search free?

Yes. Searching the BREG database and viewing entity details, including the master name, business type, file number, status, and registration date, costs nothing. Certain documents on an entity's record, such as copies of filings, are available for purchase.

What happened to Hawaii Business Express?

The DCCA retired the legacy HBE platform on July 2, 2026 and launched a replacement portal at hbe.dcca.hawaii.gov four days later. Prior HBE services carried over with the same logins, fees, and payment methods, though expedited processing was unavailable at launch.

What is a Hawaii File Number?

It is the state's unique entity identifier: a numeric value paired with a two-character suffix that encodes entity class and domestic or foreign status, shown together as one identifier such as 208048 D1.

Does Hawaii register PLLCs?

No. Hawaii has no PLLC entity type. Licensed professionals seeking limited liability can typically form a Professional Corporation, an LLP, an LLLP, or a standard LLC where the profession's licensing law allows it.