Self-Service Guide for Notarization and Authentication by the Hawaii Secretary of State
There are two types of authentication by the Secretary of State: Apostille and Certificate of Authentication. Apostille, also known as "Hague Authentication," can only be used within member countries of the Hague Convention. Since Chinese consulates are currently not part of the "Hague Convention member countries," only the "Certificate of Authentication" can be submitted to various Chinese consulates in the United States.
If you don't have time to handle it yourself, you can contact CHV for assistance. Call our customer service at: 1-518-956-5673 (US). We provide notarization and authentication services for personal or corporate documents across all 50 U.S. states, including consular three-level authentication or Hague Authentication. Expedited services are available, with completion in as fast as 3 business days.
In-office or mail-in processing:
Office of the Lieutenant Governor
State Capitol, Fifth Floor
Honolulu, HI 96813
Phone: (808) 586-0255
Fee: $1 per Hague Authentication.
Processing time: Same-day for counter service or 7 business days for mail-in orders.
Website: http://ltgov.hawaii.gov/the-office/apostilles-and-certifications/
Reminders for Notarization and Authentication in Hawaii
Deputy Governor Shan S. Tsutsui of the Honolulu office issues Hague Apostilles for public and private documents in Hawaii.
Note that vital records issued by the Department of Health (such as birth, death, and marriage certificates) must be certified copies with handwritten pen signatures, not stamped signatures, to be eligible for Hague Authentication.
Please be aware that court documents must include the seal of the court clerk to be accepted.
If you need a copy of a certificate, contact the Department of Health's Vital Records Division and request a new certificate: http://health.hawaii.gov/vitalrecords/apostilles/
General documents (such as Power of Attorney (POA), corporate documents, and school records) must be notarized and verified by the Circuit Court before they can receive Hague Authentication.
Diplomas and transcripts issued by educational institutions such as the University of Hawaii, Hawaii Pacific University, Brigham Young University, and the University of Hawaii at Hilo must first be notarized by a duly appointed notary public in Hawaii.
If you require authentication (for non-member countries of the Hague Convention) instead of Hague Authentication, these documents will be issued by the State Circuit Court.
Golden Bridge Translation Services
Phone: 518-956-5673 (SAM) Email: nycjinqiaofanyi@gmail.com
Website: www.jinqiaofanyi.com
Address: The Falchi Building, 31-00 47th Ave Suite 3100, Long Island City, NY 11101. Take the 7 train to 33 St-Rawson St station, walk southwest for 9 minutes to the entrance under the 31-00 sign, enter directly to the lobby on the third floor. (Plenty of parking available at the entrance.)
