How to get your Hawaii real estate license

You must be at least 18 years old and hold a high school diploma or GED to apply for a Hawaii real estate license. A criminal background check is required — most non-violent offenses are reviewed case-by-case.

Note: Hawaii requires 60 hours of salesperson pre-licensing education from a Hawaii-registered prelicense school. Your school completion certificate is valid for two years, so don't sit on it forever before taking the exam.

• Enroll in a 60-hour salesperson pre-licensing course with a school registered with the Hawaii Real Estate Commission (in-person schools like Abe Lee Seminars on Oahu or approved online providers both work).
• Complete all 60 hours and pass your school's final exam — your completion certificate is valid for 2 years from the date of issuance.
• Download the free Hawaii Real Estate Candidate Information Bulletin from PSI and study the content outline — the state portion leans hard on Hawaii-specific topics like leasehold property, the Bureau of Conveyances/Land Court, and HARPTA.
• Create an account at psiexams.com and schedule your salesperson exam at a PSI test center (Honolulu, Maui, Kona, Hilo, Kauai, or select mainland locations).

Hawaii uses PSI Services to administer the licensing exam. You'll need a passing score of 70% on each portion — at least 56 of 80 correct on the national section and 35 of 50 on the state section. The exam fee is $61. Expect roughly 100 national questions and 40–50 state-specific questions. Format: 130 scored multiple-choice questions (80 national + 50 state) plus a few unscored pretest items; 240 minutes total for the combo exam, computer-based at PSI test centers.

• Pass both portions of the PSI exam — if you pass one portion and fail the other, you only retake the failed portion (paying the exam fee again each attempt).
• Submit your salesperson license application to the Real Estate Branch within 2 years of your exam date, or you're deemed an unsuccessful candidate and must retest.
• Pay the license fee: $282 if you apply in an even-numbered year or $382 in an odd-numbered year. That's not a typo — all Hawaii real estate licenses expire December 31 of even-numbered years, so the fee is prorated to how much of the biennium you're actually buying.
• Answer the character and background questions — Hawaii requires a reputation for or record of competency, honesty, truthfulness, financial integrity and fair dealing, and you must disclose criminal convictions and judgments (no fingerprinting is required).
• To be issued an active license, you must be associated with a licensed Hawaii brokerage and your principal broker signs off on the application; you can also apply for inactive status and activate later when you pick a brokerage.
• Meet the baseline requirements: at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or alien authorized to work in the U.S., and a high school diploma or equivalent.

Your Hawaii license stays inactive until a licensed broker sponsors you. Interview at least 2–3 brokerages, compare commission splits, training, and lead sources, and pick the one that fits your career goals — not just the highest split.