States › Hawaii
Hawaii Alcohol Server Training Requirements (2026)
Hawaii has no statewide server training law, but some local governments require it. County liquor commissions set rules; managers / persons in charge need county exam-based cards. Validity: County-specific: Honolulu manager/bartender liquor card 4 years from server training; Maui approved-employee card 4 years; Kauai Red/Blue manager card 5 years; Hawaii County person-in-charge card 5 years.
Key facts
| Status | Local rules only |
|---|---|
| Scope | County liquor commissions set rules; managers / persons in charge need county exam-based cards. |
| Who must be trained | managers / persons in charge (all counties), bartenders (Honolulu) |
| New-hire deadline | No statewide deadline / not confirmed |
| Certificate validity | County-specific: Honolulu manager/bartender liquor card 4 years from server training; Maui approved-employee card 4 years; Kauai Red/Blue manager card 5 years; Hawaii County person-in-charge card 5 years |
| Approved programs | See official list (not transcribed) |
| Generic national courses accepted? | Not confirmed |
| Online allowed? | Not confirmed |
| Typical cost (published) | $2-$20 county card/exam fees (Hawaii County $2; Honolulu $10; Kauai $10 + $10; Maui $20) |
| Incentives | None noted |
| Notable local mandates | Honolulu: managers and bartenders must complete server training + exam for a liquor card ($10 processing). Maui: a certified 21+ 'employee approved by the Director' must be in charge (card $20, renew by re-exam). Kauai: servers need no card, but a registered Red/Blue card manager must be in active charge ($10 exam + $10 card). Hawaii County: person in active charge must complete the free course and exam ($2 card). |
| Recent changes | None noted |
Which course should I take?
- Not required statewide? Check your city/county first (see local mandates), then your employer and insurer. A nationally recognized course such as TIPS or ServSafe Alcohol is the most portable choice if you may move states.
Affiliate disclosure: Some course links on this site may become affiliate links (currently placeholders). If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes which courses a state approves.
Frequently asked questions
Is alcohol server training required in Hawaii?
Not statewide, but some local governments require it. Honolulu: managers and bartenders must complete server training + exam for a liquor card ($10 processing). Maui: a certified 21+ 'employee approved by the Director' must be in charge (card $20, renew by re-exam). Kauai: servers need no card, but a registered Red/Blue card manager must be in active charge ($10 exam + $10 card). Hawaii County: person in active charge must complete the free course and exam ($2 card).
How long is a Hawaii alcohol server certificate valid?
County-specific: Honolulu manager/bartender liquor card 4 years from server training; Maui approved-employee card 4 years; Kauai Red/Blue manager card 5 years; Hawaii County person-in-charge card 5 years
Which courses are approved in Hawaii?
Check the official source linked on this page; we have not transcribed a provider list for this state.
Sources
- Honolulu Liquor Commission: Get a Liquor Card official
- Maui County: Certification Exam official
- Kauai Liquor Control FAQs official
- Kauai: Manager card test information official
- Hawaii County: Appointment of Persons in Active Charge form official
- TIPS: Which States Require Alcohol Server Training? (2025) cross-check
- Responsibility.org Alcohol Service Training position paper (data as of Jan 12, 2026) cross-check
Notes
- Cards come from county exams, not national courses.
- NIAAA APIS could not be fetched (HTTP 403 to automated tools); APIS figures used only via a 2025 PMC article citing APIS (23 states mandate RBS in some capacity).
Spot an error or a rule change? Email us at hello@servertrainingbystate.com.