Written by Acorn Sales Company, manufacturing stamps and seals since 1964 · Reviewed by Holly R, VP of Sales and Marketing at Acorn Sales, against the Board of Professional Engineers, Architects, Surveyors, and Landscape Architects and Haw. Rev. Stat. § 464-11 on 21 September 2026 · Updated 21 September 2026
The date line beside a Hawaii seal is the expiration date of the license, not the date you signed. HAR § 16-115-9(a) builds an authentication block below the seal that reads THIS WORK WAS PREPARED BY ME OR UNDER MY SUPERVISION, then a signature rule, then the caption “Expiration Date of the License.” A licensee who fills that line with the day they signed has not complied, and a die sold with a DATE caption invites exactly that error.
The second buying decision is quantity. HAR § 16-115-8(b) provides that “An engineer who is licensed in more than one branch shall have a seal or rubber stamp for each branch.” Two branches means two devices, and the branch abbreviation follows the license number inside the center space.
The geometry is fixed and small: two circles, the inner one 1-1/8 inches and the outer one 1-1/2 inches in diameter. Because the attestation sentence, the signature and the expiration date all sit outside the circles, the die stays clean. A stamp with a built-in signature line or date line is the wrong product for Hawaii.
Hawaii PE seal requirements at a glance
| Requirement | Hawaii rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Seal required | Yes | Haw. Rev. Stat. § 464-11 |
| Required elements | Two concentric circles; Your name as licensed; The words “Hawaii, U.S.A.” in the outer ring; The profession legend in the center; Your license number in the center; Your branch abbreviation after the number (engineers only) | Haw. Admin. R. § 16-115-8(a) |
| Size and shape | Two circles: a smaller one 1-1/8 inches in diameter inside a larger one 1-1/2 inches in diameter. | Haw. Admin. R. § 16-115-8(a)(1) |
| Device allowed | HRS § 464-11 authorizes “a seal or rubber stamp of the design authorized by the board” and HAR § 16-115-8 repeats “seal or stamp” throughout, so both an embosser and an inked rubber stamp are legal. | Haw. Rev. Stat. § 464-11 |
| Signature and date | Hawaii does not use a plain signature and date. | Haw. Admin. R. § 16-115-9(a), (b), (c), (e) |
| What must be sealed | All plans, specifications, maps, reports, surveys, descriptions, and “every sheet in a set of design drawings” prepared by or under the supervision of a licensee must be sealed when filed with public officials. | Haw. Admin. R. § 16-115-9(a) |
| Electronic seal | HAR § 16-115-2 defines “Digital signature” as a digital code, generated and authenticated by public encryption, attached to an electronically transmitted document to verify its contents and the sender’s identity, containing encryption protections using a set of algorithms to determine authenticity. | Haw. Admin. R. §§ 16-115-2, 16-115-9(e) |
| Renewal and lapse | Every license expires April 30 of each even-numbered year and becomes invalid after that date unless renewed. | Haw. Rev. Stat. §§ 464-9(c), 464-11 |
| Firm number on documents | Not applicable. | Haw. Rev. Stat. § 464-12 |
| Licensing board | The Board of Professional Engineers, Architects, Surveyors, and Landscape Architects | Haw. Rev. Stat. ch. 464 (Professional Engineers, Architects, Surveyors |
Rules for other states are on PE stamp requirements by state.
Is a seal required in Hawaii?
Hawaii requires a seal Hawaii requires a seal whenever the work reaches a public official. The duty sits in statute first: HRS § 464-11 says all plans, specifications, maps, and reports prepared by or under the supervision of a licensed engineer, architect, surveyor, or landscape architect “shall be stamped with such seal or stamp when filed with public officials.” The board rule widens the list to surveys and descriptions and adds the authentication block: under HAR § 16-115-8(c) those documents “submitted to public officials for approval shall be stamped with the authorized seal or stamp and authenticated as provided in section 16-115-9.” HRS § 464-11 also bars any state or county building official from accepting plans that are not stamped by a licensed architect or by an engineer qualified in the structural branch, unless the structure is exempt under HRS § 464-13.
What must appear on the seal
- Two concentric circles
- Your name as licensed
- The words “Hawaii, U.S.A.” in the outer ring
- The profession legend in the center
- Your license number in the center
- Your branch abbreviation after the number (engineers only)
Nothing else goes inside the circles. The signature, the attestation sentence, and the date all sit below the seal under HAR § 16-115-9, not inside it, so a stamp die with a built-in signature line or date line is wrong here. Watch the legend wording: HRS § 464-11 authorizes “licensed professional engineer”, “licensed architect”, “licensed land surveyor” or “licensed landscape architect”, but the current rule prescribes “Licensed Professional Engineer”, “Licensed Professional Architect”, “Licensed Professional Land Surveyor” and “Licensed Professional Landscape Architect”. The statute lets the board authorize other wording, so cut the rule wording, not the statute wording. Engineers must add the branch abbreviation after the license number; the rule carries the full abbreviation table and it should be copied from the rule rather than guessed.
Size and shape
Two circles: a smaller one 1-1/8 inches in diameter inside a larger one 1-1/2 inches in diameter. That is the outside diameter of the device, so a 1-1/2 inch die is the target. The rule adds one performance test on top of the geometry: the licensee “shall use a seal or stamp that is legible and reproducible”, which rules out fine lettering that fills in when scanned or reduced.
Embosser, rubber stamp or digital
HRS § 464-11 authorizes “a seal or rubber stamp of the design authorized by the board” and HAR § 16-115-8 repeats “seal or stamp” throughout, so both an embosser and an inked rubber stamp are legal. The safe buy is an inked rubber stamp at 1-1/2 inches: an embossed impression is hard to satisfy the legible-and-reproducible test with on photocopies. HAR § 16-115-8(b) is the sleeper: “An engineer who is licensed in more than one branch shall have a seal or rubber stamp for each branch.” A dual-branch engineer buys two devices, not one. Whether a computer-generated seal image is permitted is not addressed. The rule expressly defines and permits a digital signature but says nothing about a digital seal graphic; checked HAR §§ 16-115-2, 16-115-8 and 16-115-9 in the board-posted chapter and HRS § 464-11.
Signing and dating
Hawaii does not use a plain signature and date. HAR § 16-115-9(a) requires an authentication block below the seal that states “This work was prepared by me or under my supervision”, is signed by the licensee, and states the expiration date of the license. The printed block in the rule reads THIS WORK WAS PREPARED BY ME OR UNDER MY SUPERVISION, then a signature rule, then the caption “Expiration Date of the License”. The date line is therefore not the date of signing. Two more blocks exist: § 16-115-9(b) requires CONSTRUCTION OF THIS PROJECT WILL BE UNDER MY OBSERVATION on plans and specifications filed with building or construction permit applications involving public safety or health, and § 16-115-9(c) combines both statements where the same licensee does design and construction observation. Under § 16-115-9(e) the signature must be an original or a digital signature, and “The use of rubber signature stamps or other facsimile signatures is prohibited.” Signing across the seal is not required.
The date beside your Hawaii seal is your license expiration date, not today’s date
Almost every other state asks a sealing engineer to write the date the document was signed. Hawaii asks for something different. HAR § 16-115-9 builds a three-line authentication block that goes below the seal, and the caption on the second line is “Expiration Date of the License”. A licensee who fills that line with the day they signed has not complied, and a stamp die sold with a DATE caption invites exactly that mistake.
Which documents must be sealed
All plans, specifications, maps, reports, surveys, descriptions, and “every sheet in a set of design drawings” prepared by or under the supervision of a licensee must be sealed when filed with public officials. The carve-out is structural, not editorial: HRS § 464-13 exempts privately owned or privately controlled buildings below cost thresholds, currently $40,000 for a one-story building and $35,000 for a two-story building, and $180,000 for a one-story residence and $162,000 for a two-story residence, figures raised by Act 177 of 2023. The exemption does not apply where the principal structural members are reinforced concrete or structural steel with riveted, bolted or welded connections, where the State or a county requires a licensed design professional (special management areas, flood hazard areas, special design districts, conditional use permits, variances), or where a landowner or owners association imposes the requirement. Drafts are not addressed: Hawaii has no preliminary or progress carve-out in the rule.
Electronic and digital seals
HAR § 16-115-2 defines “Digital signature” as a digital code, generated and authenticated by public encryption, attached to an electronically transmitted document to verify its contents and the sender’s identity, containing encryption protections using a set of algorithms to determine authenticity. No certificate authority, no named standard, no third-party vendor is required. The digital signature substitutes for the handwritten signature; the rule does not separately authorize an electronic seal graphic, so the conservative practice is a digital signature applied over an image of the board-prescribed seal design.
Renewal, lapse and retirement
Every license expires April 30 of each even-numbered year and becomes invalid after that date unless renewed. An expired license may be restored within two years of expiration on payment of a fee for each renewal period; after two years the person must reapply as a new applicant and meet the requirements then in effect. HRS § 464-11 makes it “unlawful for anyone to seal or stamp any document with such seal or stamp after the license has expired or has been revoked or suspended unless such license has been renewed or reissued.” Whether a license number changes on reapplication after the two-year window is not addressed in HRS § 464-9 or HAR chapter 16-115. There is no requirement to surrender or destroy the device.
Firm registration
Not applicable. A corporation, partnership or limited liability company may practice engineering, architecture, surveying or landscape architecture in Hawaii provided the person or persons directly in charge of the professional work are licensed, and that person must be a full-time employee, principal, officer, partner, member or manager with legal authority to bind the entity. There is no certificate of authorization, no firm number to carry on the document, and no firm seal.
What to check before you order
Order a 1-1/2 inch outside circle with a 1-1/8 inch inner circle. The outer ring carries your name plus “Hawaii, U.S.A.”, and the center carries the profession legend in the rule's wording, then your license number, then your branch abbreviation if you are an engineer. Do not add a signature line, a date line, or the word SEAL. If you are licensed in two branches, that is a second device. You do not need to show proof of licensure under statute or rule and nothing has to be filed with the board, but the device must be legible and reproducible, so avoid type smaller than the board sample supports.
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Frequently asked questions
Is a PE seal required in Hawaii?
Yes, whenever the work reaches a public official. HRS § 464-11 provides that plans, specifications, maps and reports prepared by or under the supervision of a licensed engineer, architect, surveyor or landscape architect “shall be stamped with such seal or stamp when filed with public officials.” HAR § 16-115-8(c) widens the list to surveys and descriptions and requires those documents to be stamped with the authorized seal and authenticated as provided in § 16-115-9. HRS § 464-11 also bars a state or county building official from accepting plans that are not stamped by a licensed architect or by an engineer qualified in the structural branch, unless the structure is exempt under HRS § 464-13.
What goes on a Hawaii PE seal?
Two concentric circles, your name as licensed, the words Hawaii, U.S.A. in the outer ring, the profession legend in the center, your license number in the center, and for engineers the branch abbreviation after the number. Nothing else goes inside the circles. Watch the legend wording: HRS § 464-11 authorizes “licensed professional engineer,” but the current rule prescribes “Licensed Professional Engineer,” along with Licensed Professional Architect, Licensed Professional Land Surveyor and Licensed Professional Landscape Architect. The statute lets the board authorize other wording, so cut the rule wording. The full branch abbreviation table is in the rule and should be copied from it rather than guessed.
What size is a Hawaii PE seal?
A smaller circle 1-1/8 inches in diameter inside a larger circle 1-1/2 inches in diameter, under HAR § 16-115-8(a)(1). The 1-1/2 inch figure is the outside diameter of the device. The rule adds a performance test on top of the geometry: the licensee “shall use a seal or stamp that is legible and reproducible,” which rules out fine lettering that fills in when the sheet is scanned or reduced.
Embosser or rubber stamp in Hawaii?
Both are legal and the rubber stamp is the practical buy. HRS § 464-11 authorizes “a seal or rubber stamp of the design authorized by the board” and HAR § 16-115-8 repeats seal or stamp throughout. An embossed impression is hard to get past the legible-and-reproducible test on photocopies, so an inked stamp at 1-1/2 inches is the safer device.
Does Hawaii allow a computer generated seal image?
Not addressed. The rule expressly defines and permits a digital signature but says nothing about a digital seal graphic. HAR §§ 16-115-2, 16-115-8 and 16-115-9 in the board-posted chapter and HRS § 464-11 were all checked. The conservative practice that follows is a digital signature applied over an image of the board-prescribed seal design.
What date do I write beside a Hawaii seal?
The expiration date of your license. The printed block in HAR § 16-115-9(a) carries the caption “Expiration Date of the License,” so the line is not a signing date. Two further blocks exist: § 16-115-9(b) requires CONSTRUCTION OF THIS PROJECT WILL BE UNDER MY OBSERVATION on plans and specifications filed with building or construction permit applications involving public safety or health, and § 16-115-9(c) combines both statements where the same licensee does the design and the construction observation.
Can I use a signature stamp in Hawaii?
No. Under HAR § 16-115-9(e) the signature must be an original or a digital signature, and “The use of rubber signature stamps or other facsimile signatures is prohibited.” A digital signature is defined at § 16-115-2 as a digital code generated and authenticated by public encryption, attached to an electronically transmitted document to verify its contents and the sender’s identity. No certificate authority, named standard or third-party vendor is required. Signing across the seal is not required either.
Do I need two seals if I am licensed in two branches?
Yes. HAR § 16-115-8(b) requires an engineer licensed in more than one branch to have a seal or rubber stamp for each branch. It is a per-branch order, and the branch abbreviation follows the license number inside the center space.
Which Hawaii documents need a seal, and what is exempt?
All plans, specifications, maps, reports, surveys and descriptions prepared by or under the supervision of a licensee, and “every sheet in a set of design drawings,” when filed with public officials. The carve-out is structural rather than editorial. HRS § 464-13 exempts privately owned or privately controlled buildings below cost thresholds, currently $40,000 for a one-story building and $35,000 for a two-story building, and $180,000 for a one-story residence and $162,000 for a two-story residence, figures raised by Act 177 of 2023. The exemption does not apply where the principal structural members are reinforced concrete or structural steel with riveted, bolted or welded connections, where the State or a county requires a licensed design professional in special management areas, flood hazard areas, special design districts, conditional use permits or variances, or where a landowner or owners association imposes the requirement. There is no preliminary or progress carve-out in the rule.
What happens to my Hawaii seal at renewal or after a lapse?
The device does not change but the expiration line does. Every license expires April 30 of each even-numbered year and becomes invalid after that date unless renewed. An expired license may be restored within two years of expiration on payment of a fee for each renewal period; after two years the person reapplies as a new applicant under the requirements then in effect. HRS § 464-11 makes it unlawful to seal or stamp any document after the license has expired or been revoked or suspended unless it has been renewed or reissued. Whether a license number changes on reapplication after the two-year window is not addressed in HRS § 464-9 or HAR chapter 16-115, and there is no requirement to surrender or destroy the device.
Should the expiration date be built into my Hawaii stamp?
It can be, but it turns the device into a consumable. The date changes every two years, on April 30 of each even-numbered year, so a die with the date set has to be replaced or re-dated each biennium. Handwriting the line, or a separate small date stamp, is the cheaper answer, and it keeps the seal itself clean of anything the rule does not put inside the circles.
Does a Hawaii firm need a certificate of authorization?
No. A corporation, partnership or limited liability company may practice engineering, architecture, surveying or landscape architecture in Hawaii provided the person directly in charge of the professional work is licensed and is a full-time employee, principal, officer, partner, member or manager with legal authority to bind the entity. There is no certificate of authorization, no firm number to carry on the document and no firm seal.
